Photo & Video Chronology — May 19, 2026 — Kīlauea summit fieldwork

By Hawaiian Volcano Observatory May 19, 2026

On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, scientists at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory conducted a GPS survey to measure the elevation along a transect across the tephra cone formed by lava fountaining episodes at the summit of Kīlauea. Repeat measurements across the same set of points have been done after episodes to track the hill growth and changes over time.

Color photograph of volcanic vents degassing

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Color photograph of volcanic deposit with crack in the ground — The area south of Halema‘uma‘u has many ground cracks, many associated with the 2018 Kīlauea summit collapse and others associated with more recent earthquakes and ground deformation. While tephra from the ongoing summit eruption has covered and obscured many ground cracks, the deposit itself in places has deep cracks. This photo shows a crack in the reticulite (a lightweight and frothy tephra) deposit erupted and emplaced during episode 38 on December 6, 2025. The north and south vents are degassing in the background. The north vent is to the right and has an opaque white plume rising from it, while south vent is to its left and has a broader plume with a bluish tinge. USGS photo by N. Deligne.