This photo shows a view of the western fissure, feeding the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea. The inlet zone, where lava is entering the lake, is visible at the bottom of the photo. Near the center of the photo, an area of lava driblets can be seen running down the flank of the western fissure's cone. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
Images
Explore our planet through photography and imagery, including climate change and water all the way back to the 1800s when the USGS was surveying the country by horse and buggy.
This photo shows a view of the western fissure, feeding the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea. The inlet zone, where lava is entering the lake, is visible at the bottom of the photo. Near the center of the photo, an area of lava driblets can be seen running down the flank of the western fissure's cone. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
This photo shows the main island, just west of the lake center, in Halema‘uma‘u lava lake at the summit of Kīlauea. The recent drop in lake level, associated with ongoing summit deflation, is shown by the raised edge around much of the perimeter of the island. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
This photo shows the main island, just west of the lake center, in Halema‘uma‘u lava lake at the summit of Kīlauea. The recent drop in lake level, associated with ongoing summit deflation, is shown by the raised edge around much of the perimeter of the island. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
The lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea, remains active. Active surface lava remains limited to the western portion of the lake, shown here. Ongoing summit deflation has been associated with a slight drop in the lake level, now a few meters below the rim of the levee.
The lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea, remains active. Active surface lava remains limited to the western portion of the lake, shown here. Ongoing summit deflation has been associated with a slight drop in the lake level, now a few meters below the rim of the levee.
A pot of lava at the end of the rainbow? A rainbow formed over Halema‘uma‘u crater following an afternoon rain shower on February 22. Rainbows are often observed over Halema‘uma‘u, as mist and rain move across the caldera. This photo was taken from within an area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park that remains closed to the public for safety reasons.
A pot of lava at the end of the rainbow? A rainbow formed over Halema‘uma‘u crater following an afternoon rain shower on February 22. Rainbows are often observed over Halema‘uma‘u, as mist and rain move across the caldera. This photo was taken from within an area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park that remains closed to the public for safety reasons.
An HVO geologist uses a sketch in their fieldbook to note the location of laser rangefinder measurements of the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea.
An HVO geologist uses a sketch in their fieldbook to note the location of laser rangefinder measurements of the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea.
USGS 21st Century Science - WILDLAND FIRE (portrait)
USGS 21st Century Science - WILDLAND FIRE (portrait)\$71-\$246 BILLION
Net annual economic impact of wildland fire across the U.S.1
650 MILLION
Acres of public lands that are managed for wildland fire.2
16.1 FATALITIES
Average annual fatalities from wildland fire.3
USGS 21st Century Science - WILDLAND FIRE (portrait)
USGS 21st Century Science - WILDLAND FIRE (portrait)\$71-\$246 BILLION
Net annual economic impact of wildland fire across the U.S.1
650 MILLION
Acres of public lands that are managed for wildland fire.2
16.1 FATALITIES
Average annual fatalities from wildland fire.3
The Chesapeake Bay watershed, or draingage basin, encompasses six states - New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. A drainage basin is a giant system of creeks, streams, and rivers that all flow into a common outlet, which in this case is the Chesapeake Bay.
The Chesapeake Bay watershed, or draingage basin, encompasses six states - New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. A drainage basin is a giant system of creeks, streams, and rivers that all flow into a common outlet, which in this case is the Chesapeake Bay.
Collecting sediment core with vibracore equipment at Mullet Key, FL
Collecting sediment core with vibracore equipment at Mullet Key, FLDan Ciarletta (right) working alongside Julie Bernier (left) to collect a sediment core on Mullet Key, an island within Fort de Soto Park in Pinellas County, Florida. The core will be used to reconstruct the geologic history of the island.
Collecting sediment core with vibracore equipment at Mullet Key, FL
Collecting sediment core with vibracore equipment at Mullet Key, FLDan Ciarletta (right) working alongside Julie Bernier (left) to collect a sediment core on Mullet Key, an island within Fort de Soto Park in Pinellas County, Florida. The core will be used to reconstruct the geologic history of the island.
Halema‘uma‘u lava lake observations, Kīlauea summit February 19
Halema‘uma‘u lava lake observations, Kīlauea summit February 19HVO geologists use a laser rangefinder to measure the distance to the Halema‘uma‘u lava lake, and other eruptive features, at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. These lava lake measurements are used to help calculate the depth, volume, and how it has evolved throughout the eruption. The stagnant eastern portion of the lava lake is visible in the lower-left.
Halema‘uma‘u lava lake observations, Kīlauea summit February 19
Halema‘uma‘u lava lake observations, Kīlauea summit February 19HVO geologists use a laser rangefinder to measure the distance to the Halema‘uma‘u lava lake, and other eruptive features, at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. These lava lake measurements are used to help calculate the depth, volume, and how it has evolved throughout the eruption. The stagnant eastern portion of the lava lake is visible in the lower-left.
Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow Daniel Ciarletta labels a sediment core
Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow Daniel Ciarletta labels a sediment coreMendenhall postdoctoral fellow Daniel Ciarletta of the St.
Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow Daniel Ciarletta labels a sediment core
Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow Daniel Ciarletta labels a sediment coreMendenhall postdoctoral fellow Daniel Ciarletta of the St.
Modern equipment currently in use at a streamgage on the Ogden River
Modern equipment currently in use at a streamgage on the Ogden RiverModern equipment currently in use at the South Fork of the Ogden River streamgage, to include; an electronic data logger, pressure transducer and GOES radio. This streamgage has been monitoring water levels and flow since March 21, 1921, making it one of 25 centennial gauges in Utah. The equipment used to collect data has changed significantly over the pas
Modern equipment currently in use at a streamgage on the Ogden River
Modern equipment currently in use at a streamgage on the Ogden RiverModern equipment currently in use at the South Fork of the Ogden River streamgage, to include; an electronic data logger, pressure transducer and GOES radio. This streamgage has been monitoring water levels and flow since March 21, 1921, making it one of 25 centennial gauges in Utah. The equipment used to collect data has changed significantly over the pas
Sediment coring at Mullet Key, Florida along the Gulf of Mexico
Sediment coring at Mullet Key, Florida along the Gulf of MexicoMendenhall postdoctoral fellow Daniel Ciarletta and geologists Julie Bernier and Nancy DeWitt of the St.
Sediment coring at Mullet Key, Florida along the Gulf of Mexico
Sediment coring at Mullet Key, Florida along the Gulf of MexicoMendenhall postdoctoral fellow Daniel Ciarletta and geologists Julie Bernier and Nancy DeWitt of the St.
Description of the South Fork of the Ogden River streamgage
Description of the South Fork of the Ogden River streamgageDescription of the South Fork of the Ogden River streamgage included in USGS Water-Supply Paper 530 "Surface Water Supply of the United States, 1921, Part X.
Description of the South Fork of the Ogden River streamgage
Description of the South Fork of the Ogden River streamgageDescription of the South Fork of the Ogden River streamgage included in USGS Water-Supply Paper 530 "Surface Water Supply of the United States, 1921, Part X.
Spatter visible at the west vent on Wednesday morning, February 17
Spatter visible at the west vent on Wednesday morning, February 17Lava continues to erupt from the west vent in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. On Wednesday morning, February 17, small pieces of spatter were occasionally ejected from the vent, landing on the slope below. This type of activity has decreased significantly over the past several weeks.
Spatter visible at the west vent on Wednesday morning, February 17
Spatter visible at the west vent on Wednesday morning, February 17Lava continues to erupt from the west vent in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. On Wednesday morning, February 17, small pieces of spatter were occasionally ejected from the vent, landing on the slope below. This type of activity has decreased significantly over the past several weeks.
Views of Kīlauea's summit lava lake on February 17
Views of Kīlauea's summit lava lake on February 17Active surface lava has been limited to the western portion of the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea. This photo shows a large portion of this western zone. The surface is composed of a patchwork of small, angular crustal plates separated by darker spreading zones. USGS photo taken by M. Patrick on February 17, 2021.
Views of Kīlauea's summit lava lake on February 17
Views of Kīlauea's summit lava lake on February 17Active surface lava has been limited to the western portion of the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea. This photo shows a large portion of this western zone. The surface is composed of a patchwork of small, angular crustal plates separated by darker spreading zones. USGS photo taken by M. Patrick on February 17, 2021.
Views of Kīlauea's summit lava lake on February 17
Views of Kīlauea's summit lava lake on February 17This photo shows a close-up of the inlet along the western margin of the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. Lava originating at the small upwelling zone rapidly develops a thin flexible crust as it moves away from the source. A small island also has been present just south of the inlet. USGS photo taken by M.
Views of Kīlauea's summit lava lake on February 17
Views of Kīlauea's summit lava lake on February 17This photo shows a close-up of the inlet along the western margin of the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. Lava originating at the small upwelling zone rapidly develops a thin flexible crust as it moves away from the source. A small island also has been present just south of the inlet. USGS photo taken by M.
Views of Kīlauea's summit lava lake on February 17
Views of Kīlauea's summit lava lake on February 17The lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea, remains active. The active lava was retained by a levee several meters (yards) high along the west margin. The levee is formed from numerous small rafted crustal plates that have stacked upon one another, and likely fused together. USGS photo taken by M. Patrick on February 17, 2021.
Views of Kīlauea's summit lava lake on February 17
Views of Kīlauea's summit lava lake on February 17The lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea, remains active. The active lava was retained by a levee several meters (yards) high along the west margin. The levee is formed from numerous small rafted crustal plates that have stacked upon one another, and likely fused together. USGS photo taken by M. Patrick on February 17, 2021.
Overflight photo of western fissure in Halema‘uma‘u—Kīlauea summit
Overflight photo of western fissure in Halema‘uma‘u—Kīlauea summitThis photo of the erupting western fissure in Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea was captured during a helicopter overflight on the morning of Tuesday, February 16. The degassing cone was not visibly spattering during the overflight, but the lava inlet near the base of the cone is evidence of continued effusion into the lava lake. USGS photo taken by M.
Overflight photo of western fissure in Halema‘uma‘u—Kīlauea summit
Overflight photo of western fissure in Halema‘uma‘u—Kīlauea summitThis photo of the erupting western fissure in Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea was captured during a helicopter overflight on the morning of Tuesday, February 16. The degassing cone was not visibly spattering during the overflight, but the lava inlet near the base of the cone is evidence of continued effusion into the lava lake. USGS photo taken by M.
Photomicrographs from a big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) from Wisconsi
Photomicrographs from a big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) from WisconsiPhotomicrographs from a big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) from Wisconsin, USA. H&E stain. (A) Low magnification of a cross section through the nares showing nasal cavity (*), oral mucosa (arrowhead), and haired skin (arrow). (B) Higher magnification showing a normal hair follicle (arrow) surrounded by sebaceous glands.
Photomicrographs from a big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) from Wisconsi
Photomicrographs from a big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) from WisconsiPhotomicrographs from a big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) from Wisconsin, USA. H&E stain. (A) Low magnification of a cross section through the nares showing nasal cavity (*), oral mucosa (arrowhead), and haired skin (arrow). (B) Higher magnification showing a normal hair follicle (arrow) surrounded by sebaceous glands.
Close-up view of the west vent—Kīlauea summit eruption
Close-up view of the west vent—Kīlauea summit eruptionA telephoto image of the west vent within Halema‘uma‘u crater, at Kīlauea summit. Lava is being supplied to the active western lava lake through the inlet at the base of the vent (lower-center). This photo was taken from the southern rim of Halema‘uma‘u, within an area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park that remains closed to the public for safety reasons.
Close-up view of the west vent—Kīlauea summit eruption
Close-up view of the west vent—Kīlauea summit eruptionA telephoto image of the west vent within Halema‘uma‘u crater, at Kīlauea summit. Lava is being supplied to the active western lava lake through the inlet at the base of the vent (lower-center). This photo was taken from the southern rim of Halema‘uma‘u, within an area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park that remains closed to the public for safety reasons.