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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.

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Photograph of USGS UAS pilot wearing an orange USGS shirt
Woods Hole's Aerial Imaging and Mapping pilots in Hawaii
Woods Hole's Aerial Imaging and Mapping pilots in Hawaii
Woods Hole's Aerial Imaging and Mapping pilots in Hawaii

Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center's Aerial Imaging and Mapping rock stars preparing to fly Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) mission while a river of lava flows in the background

Kīlauea summit subsides and produces frequent earthquakes...
Kīlauea summit subsides and produces frequent earthquakes
Kīlauea summit subsides and produces frequent earthquakes
Kīlauea summit subsides and produces frequent earthquakes

On June 23, 2018 at 4:32 p.m. HST after approximately 17 hours of elevated seismicity, a collapse explosion occurred at the summit if Kīlauea. The energy released by the event was equivalent to a magnitude 5.3 earthquake.

On June 23, 2018 at 4:32 p.m. HST after approximately 17 hours of elevated seismicity, a collapse explosion occurred at the summit if Kīlauea. The energy released by the event was equivalent to a magnitude 5.3 earthquake.

subsidence shown as an animation
Kīlauea Volcano — Animated GIF of Crater Subsidence
Kīlauea Volcano — Animated GIF of Crater Subsidence
Kīlauea Volcano — Animated GIF of Crater Subsidence

This animated GIF shows a timelapse sequence consisting of one image per day between June 13 and 24. The photos were taken from the southern caldera rim, near Keanakāko‘i Crater, and look north towards HVO and Jaggar Museum.

This animated GIF shows a timelapse sequence consisting of one image per day between June 13 and 24. The photos were taken from the southern caldera rim, near Keanakāko‘i Crater, and look north towards HVO and Jaggar Museum.

Lava fountain with lava flow
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Fountain
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Fountain
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Fountain

At fissure 8, fountains provide a vigorous supply of lava that exits the cinder cone and drops over a spillway to enter a well-established lava channel that extends to the sea.

At fissure 8, fountains provide a vigorous supply of lava that exits the cinder cone and drops over a spillway to enter a well-established lava channel that extends to the sea.

Lava flowing across the landscape
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Flows from Fissure 8
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Flows from Fissure 8
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Flows from Fissure 8

View to the southwest, looking "up" the lava channel. Lava flows from Fissure 8 (not pictured) through the open channel about 13 km (8 mi) to the ocean. Lava remains incandescent (glowing orange) along the entire length of the channel with sections of cooled lava (black) on the surface.

View to the southwest, looking "up" the lava channel. Lava flows from Fissure 8 (not pictured) through the open channel about 13 km (8 mi) to the ocean. Lava remains incandescent (glowing orange) along the entire length of the channel with sections of cooled lava (black) on the surface.

Aerial view of lava channel
Kīlauea Volcano — Ocean Entry
Kīlauea Volcano — Ocean Entry
Kīlauea Volcano — Ocean Entry

Lava is entering the sea on the southern side of the entry area primarily through the open channel, but also along a 1 km (0.6 mi) wide area. The entry areas are marked by billowing laze plumes.

Lava is entering the sea on the southern side of the entry area primarily through the open channel, but also along a 1 km (0.6 mi) wide area. The entry areas are marked by billowing laze plumes.

Geologist pointing into the distance along a road with a straight roadway beside him.
Kīlauea Volcano — Roadway Crack Observations
Kīlauea Volcano — Roadway Crack Observations
Kīlauea Volcano — Roadway Crack Observations

USGS field crews track activity in and around Leilani Estates in Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone. Observations are also collected on a daily basis from cracks in the area of Highway 130, shown here (no changes in temperature, crack width, or gas emissions have been noted recently).

USGS field crews track activity in and around Leilani Estates in Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone. Observations are also collected on a daily basis from cracks in the area of Highway 130, shown here (no changes in temperature, crack width, or gas emissions have been noted recently).

Small plume cloud from a crater
Kīlauea Volcano — Small Halema`uma`u Eruption (June 24, 2018)
Kīlauea Volcano — Small Halema`uma`u Eruption (June 24, 2018)
Kīlauea Volcano — Small Halema`uma`u Eruption (June 24, 2018)

On June 24 a small ash-poor steam plume rose above the Halema‘uma‘u crater rim following another collapse explosion event at 4:12 p.m. HST (image taken at 4:27 p.m.).

Lava spattering from a cone
Kīlauea Volcano — Spatter Cone (Fissure 8)
Kīlauea Volcano — Spatter Cone (Fissure 8)
Kīlauea Volcano — Spatter Cone (Fissure 8)

The spatter cone at fissure 8 is now about 55 m (180 ft) tall. Lava fountains rise only occasionally above that point, sending a shower of 

Kīlauea fissure 8 lava channel transports "lava boats"...
Kīlauea fissure 8 lava channel transports "lava boats"
Kīlauea fissure 8 lava channel transports "lava boats"
Kīlauea fissure 8 lava channel transports "lava boats"

Geologists captured this time-lapse video of the perched lava channel issuing from fissure 8 on Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone.

Crater view
Kīlauea Volcano — Halema`uma`u Crater Collapse (June 23, 2018)
Kīlauea Volcano — Halema`uma`u Crater Collapse (June 23, 2018)
Kīlauea Volcano — Halema`uma`u Crater Collapse (June 23, 2018)

On June 23, 2018 at 4:32 p.m. HST after approximately 17 hours of elevated seismicity, a collapse explosion occurred at the summit if Kīlauea. The energy released by the event was equivalent to a magnitude 5.3 earthquake.

On June 23, 2018 at 4:32 p.m. HST after approximately 17 hours of elevated seismicity, a collapse explosion occurred at the summit if Kīlauea. The energy released by the event was equivalent to a magnitude 5.3 earthquake.

Lava fountaining with lava channel flowing away
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Lava Fountain
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Lava Fountain
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Lava Fountain

Lava continues to erupt at a high rate from Fissure 8 and flow within the established channel to the ocean. No channel overflows were observed during this morning's overflight.

Lava continues to erupt at a high rate from Fissure 8 and flow within the established channel to the ocean. No channel overflows were observed during this morning's overflight.

View of Halema`uma`u crater
Kīlauea Volcano — Halema‘uma‘u Crater
Kīlauea Volcano — Halema‘uma‘u Crater
Kīlauea Volcano — Halema‘uma‘u Crater

Halema'uma'u crater at 8:30 a.m., view is toward the south. Several benches are clearly visible within the crater.

June 2018 Flow on Elk Creek near Rapid City, SD (06425100)
June 2018 Flow on Elk Creek near Rapid City, SD (06425100)
June 2018 Flow on Elk Creek near Rapid City, SD (06425100)
June 2018 Flow on Elk Creek near Rapid City, SD (06425100)

USGS Hydrologic Technician Kammy Durham measuring discharge of Elk Creek near Rapid City, SD (streamgage 06407500), to capture peak flow after heavy rains during the week of June 18, 2018. The flow at this streamgage was 81 cubic feet per second on June 21, 2018.

USGS Hydrologic Technician Kammy Durham measuring discharge of Elk Creek near Rapid City, SD (streamgage 06407500), to capture peak flow after heavy rains during the week of June 18, 2018. The flow at this streamgage was 81 cubic feet per second on June 21, 2018.

June 2018 Flow on Spring Creek near Keystone, SD (06407500)
June 2018 Flow on Spring Creek near Keystone, SD (06407500)
June 2018 Flow on Spring Creek near Keystone, SD (06407500)
June 2018 Flow on Spring Creek near Keystone, SD (06407500)

USGS Hydrologic Technician Kammy Durham measuring discharge of Spring Creek near Keystone, SD (streamgage 06407500), to capture peak flow after heavy rains during the week of June 18, 2018. The flow at this streamgage was 69 cubic feet per second on June 21, 2018.

USGS Hydrologic Technician Kammy Durham measuring discharge of Spring Creek near Keystone, SD (streamgage 06407500), to capture peak flow after heavy rains during the week of June 18, 2018. The flow at this streamgage was 69 cubic feet per second on June 21, 2018.

Aerial of ocean entries
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 and Ocean Entries
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 and Ocean Entries
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 and Ocean Entries

Early morning view of the ocean entry. The lava fountain from fissure 8 is visible behind the laze plume rising from the entry point. The open lava flowchannel is visible just beyond the solidified darker flows in the foreground.

Early morning view of the ocean entry. The lava fountain from fissure 8 is visible behind the laze plume rising from the entry point. The open lava flowchannel is visible just beyond the solidified darker flows in the foreground.

Fissure with lava going into a lava channel
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Lava Channel
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Lava Channel
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Lava Channel

Fissure 8 continues building a tephra cone and producing a robust channelized lava flow on Kīlauea Volcano's Lower East Rift Zone.

View of the crater
Kīlauea Volcano — Halema‘uma‘u Crater Continues Enlarging
Kīlauea Volcano — Halema‘uma‘u Crater Continues Enlarging
Kīlauea Volcano — Halema‘uma‘u Crater Continues Enlarging

The USGS UAS (unoccupied aircraft system) team took this photograph of Halema‘uma‘u Crater from the Kīlauea Overlook on this morning. They are preparing for a flight to map further subsidence at the summit.

The USGS UAS (unoccupied aircraft system) team took this photograph of Halema‘uma‘u Crater from the Kīlauea Overlook on this morning. They are preparing for a flight to map further subsidence at the summit.

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