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Lava fountaining in the southwest portion of Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera) has producing tephra cone perched along the caldera wall. USGS video by M. Patrick on January 2, 2025. 

In addition to the December 2024 update, Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, presents YVO’s top five geologic stories from Yellowstone National Park in 2024. 

Fountaining at Kīlauea summit increased in vigor on December 29. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists on the crater rim the morning of December 29 observed an increase in height throughout their field shift, up to about 40 m (130 feet). Lava effusion was also starting to form a perched lava pond in front of the vents. USGS video by M. Patrick. 

This video shows lava fountaining within Kaluapele (Kīlauea summit caldera) on the morning of December 29, 2024, as viewed from the south rim of the crater by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists. USGS video by M. Patrick

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists conducted an overflight on the morning of Friday, December 27, 2024, of the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater.

Glowing red lava fountains are continuing to erupt at Kīlauea summit this Christmas Eve. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists monitored the eruption from the caldera rim, measuring the lava fountain heights at approximately 75 meters (246 feet) during an afternoon monitoring fieldshift.

The B2cam captures a live view of Halemaʻumaʻu crater from the east rim and down-dropped block, looking west across Kīlauea summit caldera. On December 23, 2024, it captured the start of another Kīlauea summit eruption. Images taken by the webcam were compiled into this timelapse video that shows lava fountains feeding lava flows across the caldera floor.

This video, taken from the west rim of Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera), in the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, shows the new eruption that started this morning at 2:20 a.m. HST. At approximately 4:30 a.m.

This aerial video, captured during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring overflight at approximately 2:30 p.m. HST, shows lava fountaining in the southwest part of Kaluapele (Kīlauea summit caldera). The eruption began today, December 23, 2024, and covered approximately 650 acres of the caldera floor with lava. USGS video by M. Patrick. 

The V1cam provides a live view of Kīlauea caldera down-dropped block and Halemaʻumaʻu crater from the northwest rim of the caldera. It captured the Kīlauea summit eruption start on December 23, 2024, and images are compiled into a timelapse sequence here.

Landsat satellites capture images of the Earth’s surface. While the sensors aboard Landsat capture a wide range of scientifically useful wavelengths, this collection reveals natural color imagery in the red, green and blue parts of the visible spectrum, as if viewed by the naked eye from 438 miles above the surface.

The hydrothermal explosion in Biscuit Basin stole all the headlines. But did you know there was a smaller hydrothermal explosion in Norris Geyser Basin on April 15, 2024? That explosion was detected by a new infrasound sensor installed this past September. Watch to learn more.

Creating a binational sponge city in the desert: Flooding in the binational cities at Ambos Nogales on the Arizona-Sonora portion of the US-Mexico border has caused damage, ruined livelihoods and taken lives for hundreds of years.

Obsidian: It’s not just a valuable commodity in Minecraft. Obsidian was an important resource for Indigenous peoples across western North America. Learn more in this month's update.

The Klamath River, flowing from the high desert interior of Oregon and through the redwood forests of California, once produced large runs of salmon and trout. However, the construction of hydroelectric dams, beginning in 1918, blocked fish migration, encroached on Indigenous culture, and impacted water quality.

On a scorching day in June 2022, the summer Lake Powell reached its lowest water level in five decades, National Park Service staff caught baby smallmouth bass in the lower Colorado River.