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Hawaiian Volcano Observatory images of eruptive activity, field work, and more.
Episode 47 lava fountaining at Kīlauea summit began at approximately 3:27 p.m. HST Thursday, May 14, and continued for about 9 hours. Only the north vent produced high fountains with only sporadic spattering activity from the south vent. This photo taken around 5 p.m.
Episode 47 lava fountaining at Kīlauea summit began at approximately 3:27 p.m. HST Thursday, May 14, and continued for about 9 hours. Only the north vent produced high fountains with only sporadic spattering activity from the south vent. This photo taken around 5 p.m.
During episode 47 of the Kīlauea summit eruption that took place for 9 hours on Thursday May 14, the north vent fountains reached maximum heights of under 300 meters or 1,000 feet.
During episode 47 of the Kīlauea summit eruption that took place for 9 hours on Thursday May 14, the north vent fountains reached maximum heights of under 300 meters or 1,000 feet.
A close-up view of lava on the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu crater and the southwest side of Kaluapele, Kīlauea's summit caldera, during episode 47 on May 14, 2026. These flows remain hot and may slowly move in the days immediately following an eruptive episode. USGS photo by L. Gallant.
A close-up view of lava on the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu crater and the southwest side of Kaluapele, Kīlauea's summit caldera, during episode 47 on May 14, 2026. These flows remain hot and may slowly move in the days immediately following an eruptive episode. USGS photo by L. Gallant.
USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists monitor lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea during episode 47 on May 14. 2026. From various locations around Kaluapele, Kīlauea summit caldera, USGS scientists check for tephra fallout, document and characterize eruptive activity, and measure the lava fountain and volcanic plume heights.
USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists monitor lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea during episode 47 on May 14. 2026. From various locations around Kaluapele, Kīlauea summit caldera, USGS scientists check for tephra fallout, document and characterize eruptive activity, and measure the lava fountain and volcanic plume heights.
Episode 47 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu began at the summit of Kīlauea at 3:27 p.m. HST on May 14th, 2026. This photo was taken nearly three hours later, at 6:18 p.m., from the south rim of the crater, and shows the north vent lava fountain (left) feeding lava flows that are advancing across the crater floor. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
Episode 47 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu began at the summit of Kīlauea at 3:27 p.m. HST on May 14th, 2026. This photo was taken nearly three hours later, at 6:18 p.m., from the south rim of the crater, and shows the north vent lava fountain (left) feeding lava flows that are advancing across the crater floor. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
Episode 47 of the ongoing eruption at Halema‘uma‘u started at on May 14 at 3:27 p.m. HST and lasted 9 hours. This photo was taken shortly after sunset at 6:55 p.m. HST. The incandescent north vent lava fountain and its associated lava flows are seen through the vegetation at Kīlauea's summit region. USGS photo by L. Forster.
Episode 47 of the ongoing eruption at Halema‘uma‘u started at on May 14 at 3:27 p.m. HST and lasted 9 hours. This photo was taken shortly after sunset at 6:55 p.m. HST. The incandescent north vent lava fountain and its associated lava flows are seen through the vegetation at Kīlauea's summit region. USGS photo by L. Forster.
B1cam captured this sunset view of the north vent lava fountain and lava flow during eruptive episode 47 at the summit of Kīlauea on May 14, 2026. USGS webcam image.
B1cam captured this sunset view of the north vent lava fountain and lava flow during eruptive episode 47 at the summit of Kīlauea on May 14, 2026. USGS webcam image.
KWcam captured this view of the north vent lava fountain and lava flow visible from the north rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater during eruptive episode 47 at the summit of Kīlauea on May 14, 2026. USGS webcam image.
KWcam captured this view of the north vent lava fountain and lava flow visible from the north rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater during eruptive episode 47 at the summit of Kīlauea on May 14, 2026. USGS webcam image.
Tilt record from December 1, 2025, to May 12, 2026, for tiltmeter UWD near the summit of Kīlauea, during which lava fountaining episode 38–46 occurred. Deflationary tilt is shown as a tilt “decrease” and inflationary tilt as an “increase”. Tilt variations during pauses, especially after episode 41, have led to adjustments of the forecast windows.
Tilt record from December 1, 2025, to May 12, 2026, for tiltmeter UWD near the summit of Kīlauea, during which lava fountaining episode 38–46 occurred. Deflationary tilt is shown as a tilt “decrease” and inflationary tilt as an “increase”. Tilt variations during pauses, especially after episode 41, have led to adjustments of the forecast windows.
During a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight of Kīlauea summit on May 12, 2026, scientists landed on Halema‘uma‘u crater floor with permission from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
During a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight of Kīlauea summit on May 12, 2026, scientists landed on Halema‘uma‘u crater floor with permission from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
The arrival of misty rains during the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight on May 12, 2026, precluded a full imaging of the Halema‘uma‘u crater floor, but it did offer views of an ānuenue (rainbow) in front of the Kīlauea summit eruptive vents. USGS photo by P. Dotray.
The arrival of misty rains during the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight on May 12, 2026, precluded a full imaging of the Halema‘uma‘u crater floor, but it did offer views of an ānuenue (rainbow) in front of the Kīlauea summit eruptive vents. USGS photo by P. Dotray.
On May 12, 2026, a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight around Halema‘uma‘u crater flew past the Kīlauea summit eruptive vents to the southwest, offering a rarely seen view of the vents from the crater wall side. Large patches of sulfur minerals (yellow and brown) have formed in the tephra deposits on this side of the vents.
On May 12, 2026, a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight around Halema‘uma‘u crater flew past the Kīlauea summit eruptive vents to the southwest, offering a rarely seen view of the vents from the crater wall side. Large patches of sulfur minerals (yellow and brown) have formed in the tephra deposits on this side of the vents.
Episode 46 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu began at the summit of Kīlauea at 8:17 a.m. HST on May 5th, 2026. This panoramic photograph, taken from the south rim of Halemaʻumaʻu at 1 p.m. HST, shows the lava fountain from the north vent feeding a channelized lava flow across the crater floor. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
Episode 46 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu began at the summit of Kīlauea at 8:17 a.m. HST on May 5th, 2026. This panoramic photograph, taken from the south rim of Halemaʻumaʻu at 1 p.m. HST, shows the lava fountain from the north vent feeding a channelized lava flow across the crater floor. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
During the beginning of episode 46 lava fountaining at the summit of Kīlauea on May 5, 2026, winds blew from the southeast direction.
During the beginning of episode 46 lava fountaining at the summit of Kīlauea on May 5, 2026, winds blew from the southeast direction.
Just after 10 a.m. on May 5, 2026, the eruption plume from episode 46 of Kīlauea summit lava fountaining was visible in the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory MLcam, located on the north rim of Mokuʻāweoweo (Mauna Loa summit caldera).
Just after 10 a.m. on May 5, 2026, the eruption plume from episode 46 of Kīlauea summit lava fountaining was visible in the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory MLcam, located on the north rim of Mokuʻāweoweo (Mauna Loa summit caldera).
A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist monitors episode 46 lava fountain in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea. From various locations around Kaluapele, Kīlauea summit caldera, USGS scientists check for tephra fallout, document and characterize eruptive activity, and measure the lava fountain and volcanic plume heights. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist monitors episode 46 lava fountain in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea. From various locations around Kaluapele, Kīlauea summit caldera, USGS scientists check for tephra fallout, document and characterize eruptive activity, and measure the lava fountain and volcanic plume heights. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
This photograph was taken by the KWcam located on the northwest rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater during episode 46 of lava fountaining at the summit of Kīlauea on May 5, 2026. The episode began at 8:17 a.m.
This photograph was taken by the KWcam located on the northwest rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater during episode 46 of lava fountaining at the summit of Kīlauea on May 5, 2026. The episode began at 8:17 a.m.
From the north rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea, the lava fountain from the north vent rises above the crater rim visible in the foreground. This photograph was taken just after 10 a.m. HST, and cooled, dark-colored tephra particles falling from the lava fountain are visible, illuminated by the incandescent lava fountain the background.
From the north rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea, the lava fountain from the north vent rises above the crater rim visible in the foreground. This photograph was taken just after 10 a.m. HST, and cooled, dark-colored tephra particles falling from the lava fountain are visible, illuminated by the incandescent lava fountain the background.
During episode 46 of lava fountaining at the summit of Kīlauea, the lava fountain from the north vent reached a maximum of 650 feet (200 meters) above ground level and the volcanic plume reached a maximum height of about 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) above ground level around 10:30 a.m. HST on May 5, 2026. USGS photo by K. Mulliken.
During episode 46 of lava fountaining at the summit of Kīlauea, the lava fountain from the north vent reached a maximum of 650 feet (200 meters) above ground level and the volcanic plume reached a maximum height of about 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) above ground level around 10:30 a.m. HST on May 5, 2026. USGS photo by K. Mulliken.
During episode 46 at the summit of Kīlauea on May 5, 2026, the north vent erupted lava fountains reaching a maximum height of 650 feet (200 meters) above the vent. This photograph was taken from the north rim of Kaluapele, Kīlauea summit caldera, at approximately 1 p.m. HST. USGS photo by K. Mulliken.
During episode 46 at the summit of Kīlauea on May 5, 2026, the north vent erupted lava fountains reaching a maximum height of 650 feet (200 meters) above the vent. This photograph was taken from the north rim of Kaluapele, Kīlauea summit caldera, at approximately 1 p.m. HST. USGS photo by K. Mulliken.
The lava fountain from the north vent in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea viewed from the south rim at approximately 3 p.m. HST on May 5, 2026. Channelized lava flowing from the north vent fed lava flows on the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
The lava fountain from the north vent in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea viewed from the south rim at approximately 3 p.m. HST on May 5, 2026. Channelized lava flowing from the north vent fed lava flows on the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. USGS photo by M. Patrick.