Images

This image, taken from near the Uēkahuna overlook, shows the main and westernmost fountain within Kīlauea caldera erupting the afternoon of September 10, 2023. This vent is no longer active, and was located on the eastern portion of Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor.

An eruption at the summit of Kīlauea volcano began on September 10, 2023. The main fountain, which HVO geologists estimate is approximately 50 meters tall, is on the eastern margin of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. As of approximately 4:30 p.m.

From the Uēkahuna overlook, the new eruption at the summit of Kīlauea is visible. The farthest east fissure is near the to margin of downdropped block that formed during the 2018 summit collapse. The base of the main fissure, which is farthest west (right on the image), is approximately 70 meters wide.

The new eruption at the summit of Kīlauea volcano on September 10, 2023. After about an hour of increased seismic activity and uplift, HVO scientists observed the start of the eruption at approximately 3:15 p.m. HST.

Vigorous fountaining within Kīlauea caldera was visible from near the Uēkahuna overlook on the evening of September 10, 2023. This image shows fissure vents that opened parallel to the boundary of Halemaʻumaʻu crater near where it intersected the downdropped block. USGS image by M. Patrick.

CSAV staff Meghann Decker and UH Hilo Geology Alumni Sadie Nguyen talk with children at a Science Night at E.B. DeSilva. UH Hilo photo by Darcy Bevens.

Graph of tilting at Uēkahuna bluff—at the summit of Kīlauea—in a direction toward and away from Halemʻaumʻau, collected by a water tube tiltmeter (black) and an electronic tiltmeter (grey).  Major intrusions and eruptions are marked by blue and red arrows respectively. USGS plot. 

The locations, years, and maximum reported Hawaii runups (i.e., wave heights) for significant Pacific-wide tsunamis. Red-orange-yellow contours indicate the travel time to Honolulu for a tsunami with different origins. For example, an earthquake generated locally on the southeast coast of the Island of Hawaiʻi would arrive in Honolulu in less than an hour.

Stratigraphic column of the Kulanaokuaiki Tephra sequence, and an in-the-field look at this section with closer photographs of subunits K-1, K-3, and K-5. At some localities, there are interbedded lava flows that help correlate units across larger distances on Kīlauea volcano. USGS photos by Abigail Nalesnik.

Temporary GPS survey equipment has been deployed in Kīlauea south caldera area for additional measurements during the ongoing heightened unrest there.

HVO scientists have been closely monitoring the earthquakes in Kīlauea's summit region over the past weeks. Most earthquakes have occurred at depths of 1–2 miles (2–3 kilometers) below the surface, with no upward migration detected.

Last week, HVO staff installed a new webcam—the B2cam—on the down-dropped block within Kīlauea caldera and east rim of Halema‘uma‘u crater. This camera view replaces that of the B1cam, which was moved east during the June 2023 Halema‘uma‘u eruption because it was being exposed to intense heat.

This photo shows one of several temporary GPS survey stations recently deployed in Kīlauea south caldera region. The instruments will record additional measurements during the ongoing heightened unrest. Patterns of earthquakes and ground deformation indicate that Kīlauea's summit is becoming increasingly pressurized.

Scientists temporarily deployed a handful of temporary GPS instruments at established benchmarks in Kīlauea south caldera region to better measure ground deformation during the ongoing unrest there. Steady rates of earthquakes have persisted in this area since August 22.

A view to the west across Pago Pago harbor at Matafao Peak on Tutuila Island, American Samoa. Matafao Peak is the highest part of Tutuila Island at an elevation of 2,142 feet (653 meters) above sea level. It is part of the Matafao Peak National Natural Landmark. USGS photo by D. Downs.

A view of Rainmaker Mountain to the east of Pago Pago harbor on Tutuila Island, American Samoa. Rainmaker Mountain was mapped in the 1940s as a trachyte plug by geologist Harold Stearns. Dense jungle, the highest annual rainfall in American Samoa, and its steep cliffs make it a formidable mountain to summit. USGS photo by D. Downs.

On August 8, 2023, HVO field engineers visited the UWE tiltmeter station near Kīlauea summit. Field engineers serviced the instrument, which was experiencing temporary date outages. USGS photo by M. Cappos.

Early morning photo of the three islands that make up the Manuʻa Islands in American Samoa. Ofu Island is in the foreground, Olosega Island in the middle ground, and Taʻū Island is in the background. Ofu-Olosega islands and Taʻū Island are the tops of volcanoes, most of which are under the ocean surface. USGS photo by D. Downs.

A view of the southeast side of Olosega Island (foreground), with Ofu Island visible in the background. These volcanoes have steep cliffs and are separated by a 50-foot (15 meter) channel. The steep cliff in the photo is a dike sticking out into the ocean that has been more resistant to weathering than surrounding lava flows. USGS photo by D. Downs.

A view of the northwest side of Taʻū Island in American Samoa. This island is a shield volcano with small scoria cones on its upper flanks and tuff cones at sea level. The history of this volcano is currently being studied to better understand the eruptions that built it. The light brown material in the foreground at sea level is part of a tuff cone at Faleāsao.

A view looking at the basalt lava flows that make cliffs along the southwestern part of Tutuila Island, American Samoa. These flows are part of the Leone volcanic series and form the flattest part of Tutuila Island, where the airport and population center of Tafuna are located. USGS photo by D. Downs.