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Hawaiian Volcano Observatory images of eruptive activity, field work, and more.
Map showing the subaerial extents of Mauna Loa lava flows erupted during 1843–2022 CE. Lava flow hazard zones and districts of the County of Hawai‘i are also depicted.
Map showing the subaerial extents of Mauna Loa lava flows erupted during 1843–2022 CE. Lava flow hazard zones and districts of the County of Hawai‘i are also depicted.
This map shows recent unrest at Kīlauea volcano. Yellow circles denote earthquake locations from November 11–December 12, 2023, as recorded by HVO seismometers. Unlike previous maps of unrest in October and November, this one shows a new locus of seismicity in an area known as the East Rift connector.
This map shows recent unrest at Kīlauea volcano. Yellow circles denote earthquake locations from November 11–December 12, 2023, as recorded by HVO seismometers. Unlike previous maps of unrest in October and November, this one shows a new locus of seismicity in an area known as the East Rift connector.
Island of Hawaiʻi Volcano Awareness Month programs scheduled throughout the month of January 2024.
Island of Hawaiʻi Volcano Awareness Month programs scheduled throughout the month of January 2024.
Map showing the path that Rev. William Ellis took walking from the summit of Kīlauea to Kealakomo on August 2, 1823.
Map showing the path that Rev. William Ellis took walking from the summit of Kīlauea to Kealakomo on August 2, 1823.
These plots show provisional CO2 concentrations from two approximate areas at Kīlauea summit, over March–October 2023.
These plots show provisional CO2 concentrations from two approximate areas at Kīlauea summit, over March–October 2023.
The seismogram tracks 24 hours of signals at station WRM, just west of Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea. Examples of spectrographic helicopter noise, a small VT event, and a larger VT event are given below the seismogram.
The seismogram tracks 24 hours of signals at station WRM, just west of Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea. Examples of spectrographic helicopter noise, a small VT event, and a larger VT event are given below the seismogram.
Plot showing the distance between two GPS stations on Mauna Loa from February 2022 to November 2023. Station MOKP is on the north side of Mokuʻāweoweo and station MLES is east of Mokuʻāweoweo. This plot shows how the distance between these two stations increased before the 2022 Mauna Loa eruption, indicating that the volcano was inflating.
Plot showing the distance between two GPS stations on Mauna Loa from February 2022 to November 2023. Station MOKP is on the north side of Mokuʻāweoweo and station MLES is east of Mokuʻāweoweo. This plot shows how the distance between these two stations increased before the 2022 Mauna Loa eruption, indicating that the volcano was inflating.
Map showing the locations of earthquakes beneath Mauna Loa between October 31, 2023, and November 9, 2023. The earthquake colors indicate their depth. Most earthquakes have occurred at depths of 40–60 km (25–37 mi) beneath Mokuʻāweoweo, though some have occurred at shallower depths within 16 km (10 mi) of the ground surface. USGS map.
Map showing the locations of earthquakes beneath Mauna Loa between October 31, 2023, and November 9, 2023. The earthquake colors indicate their depth. Most earthquakes have occurred at depths of 40–60 km (25–37 mi) beneath Mokuʻāweoweo, though some have occurred at shallower depths within 16 km (10 mi) of the ground surface. USGS map.
On November 8, 2023, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory staff visited the rim of Moku‘āweoweo (Mauna Loa's summit caldera) to service the MLcam and the MTcam. These cameras had been temporarily offline and not transmitting images.
On November 8, 2023, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory staff visited the rim of Moku‘āweoweo (Mauna Loa's summit caldera) to service the MLcam and the MTcam. These cameras had been temporarily offline and not transmitting images.
On November 8, 2023, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) staff visited the rim of Moku‘āweoweo (Mauna Loa's summit caldera) to service the MLcam and the MTcam. In this photo, an HVO technician adjusts the antenna that transmits the webcam data back to the observatory. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
On November 8, 2023, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) staff visited the rim of Moku‘āweoweo (Mauna Loa's summit caldera) to service the MLcam and the MTcam. In this photo, an HVO technician adjusts the antenna that transmits the webcam data back to the observatory. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
A view of Moku‘āweoweo (Mauna Loa's summit caldera) from the rim on the northwest side. The lava flows that flooded much of the caldera floor during the brief summit phase of the 2022 eruption are nearly indistinguishable from previous lava flows.
A view of Moku‘āweoweo (Mauna Loa's summit caldera) from the rim on the northwest side. The lava flows that flooded much of the caldera floor during the brief summit phase of the 2022 eruption are nearly indistinguishable from previous lava flows.
This map shows recent unrest at Kīlauea's summit and Southwest Rift Zone. Yellow circles denote earthquake locations from October 4–November 5, 2023, as recorded by HVO seismometers.
This map shows recent unrest at Kīlauea's summit and Southwest Rift Zone. Yellow circles denote earthquake locations from October 4–November 5, 2023, as recorded by HVO seismometers.
Left: Annotated photo showing a continuous GPS monitoring station installed by HVO on the Island of Hawai'i. USGS photo by A.P. Ellis. Right: Example graph of processed daily GPS data positions in the east-west (top panel), north-south (middle panel), and vertical (bottom panel) axes for a GPS monitoring station at the summit of Kīlauea over the past two years.
Left: Annotated photo showing a continuous GPS monitoring station installed by HVO on the Island of Hawai'i. USGS photo by A.P. Ellis. Right: Example graph of processed daily GPS data positions in the east-west (top panel), north-south (middle panel), and vertical (bottom panel) axes for a GPS monitoring station at the summit of Kīlauea over the past two years.
Thumbnail image for Mauna Loa 2022 eruption anniversary video. Mauna Loa is Earth's largest active volcano and covers just over half of the Island of Hawaiʻi. It erupted most recently in November-December 2022, and it will erupt again.
Thumbnail image for Mauna Loa 2022 eruption anniversary video. Mauna Loa is Earth's largest active volcano and covers just over half of the Island of Hawaiʻi. It erupted most recently in November-December 2022, and it will erupt again.
The UNGE team with a newly installed seismic station. Also pictured is Dr. Christine Sealing (Fulbright Specialist), top row second from left, and Aaron Rinehart (USAID-USGS VDAP) bottom row second from right.
The UNGE team with a newly installed seismic station. Also pictured is Dr. Christine Sealing (Fulbright Specialist), top row second from left, and Aaron Rinehart (USAID-USGS VDAP) bottom row second from right.
USGS field engineering technician Seth Swaney works on installing the borehole and upgrading seismic station AHUD, located south of Kaluapele and the summit of Kīlauea. USGS photo by M. Warren.
USGS field engineering technician Seth Swaney works on installing the borehole and upgrading seismic station AHUD, located south of Kaluapele and the summit of Kīlauea. USGS photo by M. Warren.
Pico Basile volcano, located on Bioko Island in Equatorial Guinea (western Africa).
Pico Basile volcano, located on Bioko Island in Equatorial Guinea (western Africa).
USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory chief field engineer Kevan Kamibayashi conducts maintenance on a volcano-monitoring station located in American Samoa. USGS photo by J. Chang.
USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory chief field engineer Kevan Kamibayashi conducts maintenance on a volcano-monitoring station located in American Samoa. USGS photo by J. Chang.
In this photo, taken on October 3, 2023, near Kīlauea's coastline in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, a GPS antenna is mounted on a fixed rod. A GPS receiver, housed in the yellow box, records the positions that can be compared with those from previous years to discern subtle patterns of ground deformation associated with volcanic activity.
In this photo, taken on October 3, 2023, near Kīlauea's coastline in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, a GPS antenna is mounted on a fixed rod. A GPS receiver, housed in the yellow box, records the positions that can be compared with those from previous years to discern subtle patterns of ground deformation associated with volcanic activity.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geophysicists recently completed the annual GPS survey of Kīlauea.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geophysicists recently completed the annual GPS survey of Kīlauea.
During the annual Kīlauea GPS campaign, scientists temporarily deploy a number of GPS instruments at established benchmarks; their recorded positions can be compared with those from previous years to discern subtle patterns of ground deformation associated with volcanic activity.
During the annual Kīlauea GPS campaign, scientists temporarily deploy a number of GPS instruments at established benchmarks; their recorded positions can be compared with those from previous years to discern subtle patterns of ground deformation associated with volcanic activity.