USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists collected samples of episode 4 of the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption, which began the morning of January 15, 2025. The samples were collected from the west rim of Kaluapele, Kīlauea summit caldera. In this closed location of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, tephra from the 100-meter (approximately 328 feet) lava fountains was deposited.  USGS photo by M. Patrick. 

Around 9:15 a.m. HST this morning, January 15, 2025, the eruption of Kīlauea within Kaluapele (summit caldera) resumed with a small lava flow exiting the north vent. Later in the morning, more vigorous lava fountaining began, which deposited tephra material on the west rim of the caldera in the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. This photo shows shiny newly erupted tephra on the ground, with a glove for scale. USGS photo by M. Patrick. 

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists monitor episode 4 of the Kīlauea summit eruption that began this morning, January 15, 2025. USGS photo by M. Patrick. 

This reference map depicts the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater as of January 15, 2025. Most of the included map data were collected during a Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight on January 10, so the provided eruption statistics are current as of the end of the third eruptive episode on January 3. Just this morning, January 15, however, a fourth eruptive episode has begun with lava fountaining and flowing on the western side of the crater floor, so the active lava footprint has been mapped using webcam imagery. Also included here are west-to-east profiles across the summit caldera, depicting topographic changes since 2018. Profiles are provided for the periods before the 2018 caldera collapse, shortly after the 2018 collapse, following each of the five summit eruptions from 2020–2023, and for this eruption following the end of its third episode. Also shown is the maximum depth of the 2019–2020 Halema‘uma‘u water lake.