Another view of the new eruption within the summit caldera of Kīlauea, Kaluapele, that began this morning, December 23, 2024, at approximately 2:20 a.m. HST. Lava is erupting from vents on the west part of the caldera wall, feeding lava flows that cover the area of Halemaʻumaʻu crater (with an approximate diameter of 1 kilometer or 0.75 miles). USGS photo by M. Zoeller. 

From the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists documented the new eruption within Kalupele that started this morning at 2:20 a.m. HST. HVO geologists collected samples of the new eruption that were being deposited on the caldera rim west of the caldera and they documented the lava fountains that were reaching up to 80 meters (260 feet) at approximately 4:30 a.m. HST. USGS photo by N. Deligne. 

This photograph, taken at approximately 4:00 a.m. HST from the Volcano House overlook in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, shows the new eruption within Kaluapele (the summit caldera). The eruption started this morning at 2:20 a.m HST, following a brief but intense increase in earthquake activity and ground deformation patterns approximately a half an hour before the eruption started. USGS photo by P. Dotray. 

Kīlauea volcano began erupting within the summit caldera at approximately 2:20 a.m. HST this morning, December 23, 2024, following an increase in seismicity that began beneath the summit just a half hour earlier, at approximately 2:00 a.m. HST. Multiple fountaining sources are erupting lava flows on the base of Halemaʻumaʻu crater, wiithin Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. 

The new Kīlauea summit eruption is occurring within a closed area of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. High levels of volcanic gas—primarily water vapor (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂)—are the primary hazard of concern, as this hazard can have far-reaching effects down-wind. This photo shows the new eruption plume illuminated with the rising sun. Estimates from the KPcam, located on the flank of Mauna Loa and looking towards Kīlauea, suggest that the plume is reaching elevations of about 6,000-8,000 feet above sea level. As SO₂ is continuously released from the summit during the eruption, it will react in the atmosphere to create the visible haze known as vog (volcanic smog) downwind of Kīlauea. Vog information can be found at https://vog.ivhhn.org/. USGS photo by D. Downs. 

The lake of active lava in the summit caldera of Kīlauea glows as the sun rises. Lava has covered more than 400 acres since the eruption began at 2:20 a.m. HST this morning. USGS image by N. Deligne. 

The volcanic plume from the December 23, 2024, Kīlauea summit eruption taken from Uēkahuna overlook within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and looking south. As of 9:30 a.m. HST, the plume (which is periodic in intensity) is still active and ejecting spatter and bombs onto the west rim of the caldera in the closed area along Crater Rim Drive Road. USGS photo by H. Winslow.

Kīlauea's newest eruption samples contain olivine - a common green mineral in Hawaiian lavas. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and University of Hawai‘i at Hilo staff are picking out the olivine crystals like this one, shown using a microscope to magnify it (the crystal is 1 mm in size, or about 0.4 inches across), to analyze their chemistry. Olivine crystals can help us understand how, when, and where magmas moved inside the volcano prior to eruption. USGS photo by K. Lynn.

After sample preparation, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo faculty and an undergraduate research student load the most recent Kīlauea eruption sample into the ED-XRF (energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence) for chemical analysis. Within 6 hours of sample collection, the chemical analysis of the lava was completed. USGS photo by K. Lynn.

This aerial view, captured during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring overflight, shows the lava fountains active in the west part of Kīlauea caldera. The eruption began this morning at 2:20 a.m. HST, December 23, and fountains reached up to 90 meters (290 feet) overnight. During the overflight, fountain heights were slightly lower, around 70 meters (230 feet). New lava flows away from the fountains (to the right in the photo), while tephra material (molten material that travels through the air before it is deposited on the ground), is visible behind and downwind of the fountains (to the left in the photo). USGS photo by M. Zoeller. 

During an overflight at approximately 9:30 a.m. HST, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists captured this view of the eruption that began this morning at 2:20 a.m. HST in Kaluapele (Kīlauea summit caldera). Through the heat shimmer and volcanic fume, lava fountains on the west caldera wall continue to eruption lava that covers at least 500 acres of the caldera floor. USGS photo by M. Zoeller. 

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists conducted a monitoring overflight of the new eruption in Kīlauea summit caldera. During the overflight, which occurred at 9:30 a.m. HST, they observed lava the active lava fountains and active lava flows at the base of the caldera, which have paved more than 500 acres with new rock. The cones that formed during the September 2023 Kīlauea summit eruption, visible in the left center part of the image, are being surrounded by these fresh lava flows. USGS photo by M. Zoeller. 

A view across new lava flows paving the floor of Kīlauea caldera, taken during the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring overflight at approximately 9:30 a.m. HST this morning. USGS photo by M. Zoeller. 

A lobe of molten pāhoehoe lava on the floor of Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera) on December 23, 2024. USGS photo by M. Patrick. 

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists observe and document the new eruption within Kīlauea summit caldera. Using a laser rangefinder, the geologists measure the distance to various points associated with the new eruption. USGS photo by M. Patrick. 

A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist checks a webcam located on the rim of Kīlauea caldera. The webcam network at the summit of Kīlauea volcano is crucial for monitoring eruptions such as the one that began today, December 23, 2024, in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. USGS image by M. Patrick. 

During an overflight at 2:30 p.m. HST today, December 23, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists were able to collect a molten sample of lava from the new eruption within Kaluapele. Kaluapele, the summit caldera of Kīlauea volcano, is the sacred home of the elemental force associated with volcanoes—Pele. Analysis of molten samples, collected with permission from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, provides important information on the magma storage conditions before it erupted on the surface. After collection, molten samples are quickly quenched with cool water to preserve the geochemistry of the molten material. USGS photo by M. Patrick.