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 cone and volcanic degassing — This view is of the cone (pu‘u) that has formed in the predominant downwind direction (southwest) of the north and south vents during the ongoing eruption at Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea. This photo is east of the southwest corner of Halema‘uma‘u and is looking to the northwest. The north and south vents are out of view in the photo, but the degassing plume from these vents is visible as it rises up over the cone. The material in the foreground is reticulite (a lightweight and frothy tephra) erupted during episode 38 on December 6, 2025. USGS photo by N. Deligne.

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.

Color photograph of volcanic vents degassing — This telephoto view looking northwest shows the south vent (center), with the north vent (right) just out of view, in Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. In the leadup to episode 47, the south vent had about 75 overflows, but only the north vent produced lava fountaining during episode 47. Both vents are degassing in the photo. With the eruption now paused, the sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rate from the summit is likely now varying within a typical range of 1,000 to 5,000 tonnes per day. USGS photo by N. Deligne.