Photo & Video Chronology — December 6, 2025 — Episode 38 at Kīlauea summit | U.S. Geological Survey

Photo & Video Chronology — December 6, 2025 — Episode 38 at Kīlauea summit

By Hawaiian Volcano Observatory December 6, 2025

Kīlauea summit eruption lava fountaining episode 38 took place on December 6, 2025, in Halema‘uma‘u crater on the Island of Hawai‘i. Fountains from the south vent reached over 1000 feet (300 meters) in height and inclined to the south, destroying and covering the V3 livestreaming camera.

Color photograph of lava fountaining within volcanic crater — On December 6, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists monitored and measured the Kīlaeua summit eruption episode 38 from multiple vantage points. This photo was captured around 10:00 a.m. from the northwest rim of the crater, near the V1 live-streaming webcam, with vigorous lava fountains underway at both the north and south vents. USGS photo by M. Zoeller.

Color photograph of a volcanic plume rising above a highway

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An eruptive plume rises from the summit of Kīlauea volcano, visible from Highway 11 near Volcano Village on the Island of Hawaiʻi. This plume was generated during episode 38 of lava fountaining within Halemaʻumaʻu crater, which took place on December 6, 2025. USGS photo by K. Mulliken.

Color photograph of volcanic plume

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This telephoto view shows the darker-colored, cooler tephra particles erupted by the episode 38 lava fountains falling from the eruptive plume. USGS photo by K. Mulliken.

Color photograph of scientists walking on a closed road with volcanic eruption in the distance

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In the late morning of December 6, a crew of USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists walked to the southern rim of Halemaʻumaʻu to watch Kīlauea summit eruption episode 38. Along the way they had dramatic views of the eruptive plume, which reached an altitude of over 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) above sea level during this episode. USGS photo by M. Zoeller.

Color photograph of lava fountaining and road

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A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field crew captured this photo of Kīlauea summit eruption episode 38 from the southern rim of Halemaʻumaʻu just after noon on December 6. This was shortly after the north vent shut down, so only south vent lava fountains were ongoing, measured to reach 920 feet (280 meters) in height at the time. USGS photo by M. Zoeller.

Color photograph of lava fountain and fallout — During Kīlauea summit eruption episode 38 on December 6, "tephra-nadoes" made a return, as seen to the left of the lava fountain in this photo. Swirling winds in the tephra fallout plume led to this short-lived twister, spotted by a field crew on the southern rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. The location where V3cam was buried by the material falling out of the inclined south vent fountain is visible in the center of the image, as a small hill rising above the surrounding landscape. USGS photo by M. Zoeller.

Color photograph of lava fountain and volcanic plume — The volcanic landscape of Kīlauea volcano being reshaped during episode 38 of the eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu. This view, taken from the Kīlauea Overlook in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, shows the inclined lava fountains from the south vent, steam rising from the recently deposited tephra on the crater floor, an eruptive plume rising bouyantly above the vents, and the new puʻu (hill) that has grown on the rim of the crater. Downwind, the volcanic gases scatter the sunlight, causing the brown hue. USGS photo by D. Downs.

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The V3 camera was located on the south rim of Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea volcano on the Island of Hawai‘i. The camera, located in a hazardous closed area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, was buried by tephra from an inclined lava fountain between 9:55 and 9:57 am HST on December 6, during episode 38 that began this morning at 8:45 am. USGS webcam image. USGS webcam video.

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Views of Kīlauea summit eruption lava fountaining episode 38 in Halema‘uma‘u crater on the Island of Hawai‘i. This eruptive episode began from the north vent at about 8:45 am HST this morning, December 6. Smaller fountains began from the south vent at 8:49 am HST and quickly grew to over 1000 feet (300 meters) high and inclined to the south, towards a closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The north vent stopped erupting at 11:50 a.m. In addition to the tephra, volcanic gas is being emitted, with sulfur dioxide emission rates likely exceeding 50,000 tonnes per day. The high effusion rate of this episode is also producing a very dramatic plume extending over 20,000 feet above sea level. Both the National Weather Service and Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center issued special advisories about this plume, and the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency issued a message about the potential for fine glass particles in communities downwind. USGS video.

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