Images

A USGS scientist checks the location of the seismic node being installed within Pauahi Crater, in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, as part of the Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has a permanent monitoring network of several seismometers at the summit of Kīlauea that detect natural earthquakes, but more sei

A USGS scientist hikes into Pauahi Crater, in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, to deploy seismic nodes for the Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project. The floor of Pauahi Crater is covered by lava that flowed into the crater during a Kīlauea East Rift Zone eruption in November 1979. USGS image by M. Patrick.

Seismic nodes are prepared to be deployed to Kīlauea summit on April 17 as part of the Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project. The nodes will be temporarily placed on the surface of Kīlauea's summit region for the next two months and will collect data that will outline the geometry and nature of the magma system beneath Kīlauea summit. USGS image by S. Brantley.

A clear view across Kaluapele (Kīlauea summit caldera) on April 17, 2023, taken from Kūpinaʻi Pali (Waldron Ledge) on Crater Rim Trail in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory deployed caches of seismic node instruments via helicopter around Kīlauea summit yesterday, April 17. Seismic nodes are small earthquake-detecting devices and 1,800 of them are being placed across Kīlauea summit for the next two months as part of the Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project.

A cache of seismic nodes (small earthquake-detecting devices) on Kīlauea caldera floor, which Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists deployed on April 17.

A Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geophysicist in front of seismic nodes that will be deployed across Kīlauea summit as part of the Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project.

A Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist deploys one of 1,800 temporary seismic node stations that will be collecting data for the next two months in Kīlauea summit region.

A Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist uses a compass to check the orientation of a seismic node (blue) that was deployed on Kīlauea's summit caldera floor on April 17, 2023. The station is one of 1,800 that will collect data for the next two months.

Sentinel-1 SAR satellite data analyzed with the Alaska Satellite Facility's Hyp3 was used to create a timeseries of change over Kruzof Island for August 2018 through April 15, 2023.

The west vent area within Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea, viewed from the west rim of the crater. This vent was active during the September 2021-December 2022 eruption. An area near the west vent has persistently elevated temperatures visible in the F1 thermal cam, despite no active lava being visible for the past month.

Steam (white) and volcanic gas (bluish) were visibly emitting from Halema‘uma‘u crater the morning of April 14, 2023, along the eastern wall of the crater. Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions from Kīlauea summit remain low; the most recent SO₂ emission rate of approximately 110 tonnes per day (t/d) was measured on April 5. USGS image by K.

During a morning visit to Halema‘uma‘u rim on April 14, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists had clear views across Kīlauea summit caldera. Kīlauea stopped erupting on March 7; currently, only steam and minor gas emissions are being emitted at the summit. USGS image by K. Mulliken.

A view from the west rim of Halema‘uma‘u crater the morning of April 14, 2023. In the foreground, the brown-colored island of tephra that formed in the early parts of the December 2020 eruption is clearly visible.

The lava lake basin that formed during the September 2021-December 2022 eruption was steaming the morning of April 14, 2023. This lava lake formed in the western half of Halema‘uma‘u crater and is part of a tapestry of deposits that have formed during different Kīlauea summit eruptions over the past several years. USGS image by K. Mulliken.

A portion of Crater Rim Drive which fell into Halema‘uma‘u crater during the 2018 summit collapse remains visible on a block perched on the south wall of the crater (center of photo). The road's yellow center line makes a straight mark visible along the center of the block.

The lead electronics technician at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory checks that the new HLcam is transmitting. The HLcam is located on the southeast side of Hualālai and provides views of the northwest flank of Mauna Loa.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory technicians upgraded the Hualālai repeater station to lithium batteries, despite the chilly temperatures on Hualālai. USGS image by M. Warren.

During the week of April 10, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory technicians upgraded the Hualālai repeater site, which is an important telemetry hub for volcano monitoring data. The site is located on the southeast side of Hualālai, at an elevation of 2,160 meters (7,090 feet) above sea level.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory technician team did maintenance on the Hualālai repeater station during the week of April 10, 2023. This photo shows the team walking towards the site, which is an important telemetry hub for Hawaiian Volcano Observatory volcano monitoring data. Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa are visible in the background. USGS image by M. Warren.

A Hawaiian Volcano Observatory technician replaces batteries on the Hualālai repeater station. The station, which relays monitoring signals from nearby stations back the observatory, is powered by batteries that store energy generated by solar panels. USGS image by M. Warren.