New USGS data release on Kīlauea lava fountain heights

By Hawaiian Volcano Observatory October 30, 2026

A new Data Release by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory provides measurements of lava fountain heights during episodes 1–50 of the ongoing episodic eruption in Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea, which began December 23, 2024.

View the USGS Data Release

A scientist takes video of a red lava fountain over the rim of a crater — An HVO geologist captures video of the episode 14 fountaining at the summit of Kīlauea. The videos are time-synchronized to better compare to geophysical data, for later study. USGS photo taken by M. Patrick on March 20, 2025.

"Lava fountain heights and associated timelapse images for the summit eruption of Kīlauea volcano, Island of Hawaiʻi, 2024-2026 (continuing)"

By Matthew R. Patrick and others

Available online here: ScienceBase-Catalog

The 2024–2026 (ongoing) summit eruption of Kīlauea volcano, Island of Hawaiʻi, has produced lava fountains on a scale unprecedented in the summit caldera since written records began in 1823.
By August 2026, 54 episodes of lava fountaining had occurred, with peak heights exceeding 500 meters. Two main vents have been active (north and south), often producing remarkable dual fountains.
These fountains have fed lava flows that have spread across the crater floor, raising the western crater floor elevation by over 100 meters. Most lava fountaining episodes have lasted 6–12 hours, with one to two weeks of repose between episodes. The eruption has been highly visible to the public and media, given the ease of viewing from numerous viewpoints along the caldera rim.
In this version of the data release (updated August 2026), we have included the fountain height data and timelapse images for episodes 1–50 of the 2024–2026 eruption. The eruption was ongoing at the time of publication, with 54 episodes to that point, and subsequent episodes after episode 50 will be included in a future version of this data release.

Questions? Email askHVO@usgs.gov.

Color photograph of lava fountains — This photo was taken from the south rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater and shows the south and north fountains active during episode 43 at the summit of Kīlauea. USGS photo by M. Patrick.