On April 15, a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist prepares for a UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) flight into Halemaʻumaʻu to monitor the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption. UAS flights are conducted with the permission of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and aid in hazard assessment of ongoing volcanic activity. Unauthorized launching, landing, or operating of a UAS from or on lands and waters administered by the National Park Service is prohibited under 36 CFR Closures & Public Use. USGS photo by K. Mulliken. 

During UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) overflights on April 15, USGS-Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) staff monitor the UAS, which is visible just to the right of center in this image. HVO staff collected aerial imagery and volcanic gas concentration data during the UAS flights, which aids in volcanic hazard assessment of the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption. The eruption is currently in a pause, though there have been 17 eruptive episodes since December 23, 2024. HVO UAS flights are conducted with the permission of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, owing to HVO's mission to monitor active volcanoes in Hawaii, assess their hazards, issue warnings, and advance scientific understanding to reduce the impacts of eruptions. Unauthorized launching, landing, or operating of a UAS from or on lands and waters administered by the National Park Service is prohibited under 36 CFR Closures & Public Use. USGS photo by K. Mulliken. 

On April 15, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists flew UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) into Halemaʻumaʻu to monitor the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption. This low-level oblique aerial view of the south vent shows an absence of active lava, although the opening in the base of the vent cone (center) was vigorously emitting volcanic gases and glowed hot in thermal images. These UAS flights were conducted with the permission of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, owing to that USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's mission to monitor active volcanoes in Hawaii, assess their hazards, issue warnings, and advance scientific understanding to reduce the impacts of eruptions. Unauthorized launching, landing, or operating of a UAS from or on lands and waters administered by the National Park Service is prohibited under 36 CFR Closures & Public Use. USGS photo by M. Zoeller. 

During UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) overflights on April 15, the north vent within Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea was not emitting as much volcanic gas as its southern counterpart, and it did not glow as hot in thermal images. However, faint incandescent glow was visible in the western portion of the vent cone (just above center), as captured in this low-level oblique aerial photo. These UAS flights were conducted with the permission of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, owing to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's mission to monitor active volcanoes in Hawaii, assess their hazards, issue warnings, and advance scientific understanding to reduce the impacts of eruptions. Unauthorized launching, landing, or operating of a UAS from or on lands and waters administered by the National Park Service is prohibited under 36 CFR Closures & Public Use. USGS photo by M. Zoeller.