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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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Aerial of Kapoho Bay
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Delta at Kapoho Bay
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Delta at Kapoho Bay
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Delta at Kapoho Bay

A closer aerial view of the lava delta forming at the Kapoho Bay ocean entry, where fissure 8 lava continued enter the ocean as of this morning. Laze (lava haze), an acidic white plume laced with tiny particles of volcanic glass, is produced by the ocean entry and creates an ongoing hazard that should be avoided.

A closer aerial view of the lava delta forming at the Kapoho Bay ocean entry, where fissure 8 lava continued enter the ocean as of this morning. Laze (lava haze), an acidic white plume laced with tiny particles of volcanic glass, is produced by the ocean entry and creates an ongoing hazard that should be avoided.

Aerial of lava overflows
Kīlauea Volcano — Overflows from Fissure 8
Kīlauea Volcano — Overflows from Fissure 8
Kīlauea Volcano — Overflows from Fissure 8

Overflows of the upper fissure 8 lava channel this morning sent small flows of lava down the levee walls. These overflows did not extend far from the channel, so they posed no immediate threat to nearby areas.

Overflows of the upper fissure 8 lava channel this morning sent small flows of lava down the levee walls. These overflows did not extend far from the channel, so they posed no immediate threat to nearby areas.

Kīlauea Volcano — Summit Explosion (June 10, 2018)
Kīlauea Volcano — Summit Explosion (June 10, 2018)
Kīlauea Volcano — Summit Explosion (June 10, 2018)

Another explosion occurred at Halema‘uma‘u at 12:51 a.m. HST today, releasing energy equivalent to a magnitude-5.3 earthquake.

Topographic photo of summit
Kīlauea Volcano — Topography of Halema`uma`u
Kīlauea Volcano — Topography of Halema`uma`u
Kīlauea Volcano — Topography of Halema`uma`u

A photogrammetry survey of Kīlauea's summit by the U.S. Department of Interior Unmanned Aircraft Systems' (UAS) Kīlauea response team show the topography of Halema‘uma‘u as of June 8.

A photogrammetry survey of Kīlauea's summit by the U.S. Department of Interior Unmanned Aircraft Systems' (UAS) Kīlauea response team show the topography of Halema‘uma‘u as of June 8.

A renourished dune with protective vegetation planted on the barrier island in Beach Haven, NJ
Beach Haven, NJ
Beach Haven, NJ
Beach Haven, NJ

A renourished dune with protective vegetation planted on the barrier island in Beach Haven, NJ

Fissure 8 and lava channel in the lower East Rift Zone of Kīlauea V...
Fissure 8 and lava channel in the LERZ of Kīlauea during this after...
Fissure 8 and lava channel in the LERZ of Kīlauea during this after...
Fissure 8 and lava channel in the LERZ of Kīlauea during this after...

Fissure 8 and lava channel in the lower East Rift Zone of Kīlauea Volcano during this afternoon's overflight, with no apparent slowing in the eruption rate. The lava channel remained incandescent all the way around Kapoho Crater before entering the ocean.

Fissure 8 and lava channel in the lower East Rift Zone of Kīlauea Volcano during this afternoon's overflight, with no apparent slowing in the eruption rate. The lava channel remained incandescent all the way around Kapoho Crater before entering the ocean.

Kīlauea lower East Rift Zone lava flows and fissures, June 9, 10:00...
Kīlauea LERZ lava flows and fissures, June 9, 10:00 a.m.
Kīlauea LERZ lava flows and fissures, June 9, 10:00 a.m.
Kīlauea LERZ lava flows and fissures, June 9, 10:00 a.m.

Map as of 10:00 a.m. HST, June 9, 2018. The fissure 8 flow has created a lava delta approximately 200 acres in size, filling Kapoho Bay and shallow reefs along the nearby coastline.

A lava channel formed from a fissure eruption
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Lava Channel
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Lava Channel
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Lava Channel

Fissure 8 and lava channel in the lower East Rift Zone of Kīlauea Volcano during this afternoon's overflight, with no apparent slowing in the eruption rate. The lava channel remained incandescent all the way around Kapoho Crater before entering the ocean.

Fissure 8 and lava channel in the lower East Rift Zone of Kīlauea Volcano during this afternoon's overflight, with no apparent slowing in the eruption rate. The lava channel remained incandescent all the way around Kapoho Crater before entering the ocean.

Scientist setting up an instrument
Kīlauea Volcano — GPS Measurements at Summit
Kīlauea Volcano — GPS Measurements at Summit
Kīlauea Volcano — GPS Measurements at Summit

USGS-HVO geophysicists installed additional continuous GPS stations around Halema‘uma‘u this morning. These stations will allow scientists to better monitor and measure the ongoing subsidence of Halema‘uma‘u and the adjacent caldera floor.

USGS-HVO geophysicists installed additional continuous GPS stations around Halema‘uma‘u this morning. These stations will allow scientists to better monitor and measure the ongoing subsidence of Halema‘uma‘u and the adjacent caldera floor.

Aerial of summit showing cracking and slumping
Kīlauea Volcano — Halema`uma`u Cracking and Slumping
Kīlauea Volcano — Halema`uma`u Cracking and Slumping
Kīlauea Volcano — Halema`uma`u Cracking and Slumping

Cracking and slumping of the Halema‘uma‘u crater walls are clearly evident in this aerial view captured during HVO's overflight of Kīlauea's summit this morning. Steam plumes have been rising from within the crater, as well as from cracks adjacent to the crater.

Cracking and slumping of the Halema‘uma‘u crater walls are clearly evident in this aerial view captured during HVO's overflight of Kīlauea's summit this morning. Steam plumes have been rising from within the crater, as well as from cracks adjacent to the crater.

Aerial photo of cracking
Kīlauea Volcano — Halema‘uma‘u Cracking
Kīlauea Volcano — Halema‘uma‘u Cracking
Kīlauea Volcano — Halema‘uma‘u Cracking

Another aerial view showing prominent cracking around Halema‘uma‘u from the ongoing subsidence at Kīlauea's summit. The steaming cracks in the background have been observed for several days.

Another aerial view showing prominent cracking around Halema‘uma‘u from the ongoing subsidence at Kīlauea's summit. The steaming cracks in the background have been observed for several days.

Aerial view of ocean entry
Kīlauea Volcano — Kapoho Ocean Entry
Kīlauea Volcano — Kapoho Ocean Entry
Kīlauea Volcano — Kapoho Ocean Entry

An aerial view of the Kapoho ocean entry, as of 6:30 a.m. HST today, shows the extent of the lava delta, now about 200 acres in size, that has formed over the past six days (lava first entered the ocean on the night of June 3).

An aerial view of the Kapoho ocean entry, as of 6:30 a.m. HST today, shows the extent of the lava delta, now about 200 acres in size, that has formed over the past six days (lava first entered the ocean on the night of June 3).

Scientists setting up a weatherport for shelter on St. Matthew Island, Alaska
Setting up a weatherport on St. Matthew Island, Alaska
Setting up a weatherport on St. Matthew Island, Alaska
Setting up a weatherport on St. Matthew Island, Alaska

Scientists setting up a weatherport for shelter while conducting research on St. Matthew Island Alaska.

Kīlauea lower East Rift Zone lava flows and fissures, June 8, 12:00...
Kīlauea LERZ lava flows and fissures, June 8, 12:00 p.m.
Kīlauea LERZ lava flows and fissures, June 8, 12:00 p.m.
Kīlauea LERZ lava flows and fissures, June 8, 12:00 p.m.

Map as of 12:00 p.m. (noon) HST, June 8, 2018. Given the dynamic nature of Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone eruption, with changing vent locations, fissures starting and stopping, and varying rates of lava effusion, map details shown here are accurate as of the date/time noted. Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015.

Map as of 12:00 p.m. (noon) HST, June 8, 2018. Given the dynamic nature of Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone eruption, with changing vent locations, fissures starting and stopping, and varying rates of lava effusion, map details shown here are accurate as of the date/time noted. Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015.

Plumes from ocean entry
Kīlauea Volcano — Kapoho Bay and Vacationland
Kīlauea Volcano — Kapoho Bay and Vacationland
Kīlauea Volcano — Kapoho Bay and Vacationland

HVO's early morning helicopter overflight of Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone showed that lava continues to flow into the ocean in the vicinity of Kapoho Bay and Vacationland.

HVO's early morning helicopter overflight of Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone showed that lava continues to flow into the ocean in the vicinity of Kapoho Bay and Vacationland.

Lava fountaining at night time
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Fountaining (Fissure 8)
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Fountaining (Fissure 8)
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Fountaining (Fissure 8)

Around 3:00 a.m. HST today (June 8), lava fountains erupting from fissure 8 on Kīlauea Volcano's Lower East Rift Zone were reaching heights of 180–220 feet.

Outgassing rising from the summit
Kīlauea Volcano — Summit Outgassing
Kīlauea Volcano — Summit Outgassing
Kīlauea Volcano — Summit Outgassing

Outgassing from Halema‘uma‘u produced twin pillars that rose in the still morning air and merged into a towering cap above the summit of Kīlauea just after sunrise.

Outgassing from Halema‘uma‘u produced twin pillars that rose in the still morning air and merged into a towering cap above the summit of Kīlauea just after sunrise.

Plume coming from a crater
Kīlauea Volcano — Summit Pluming
Kīlauea Volcano — Summit Pluming
Kīlauea Volcano — Summit Pluming

Dramatic changes at Halema‘uma‘u could be seen through gases rising from the crater during HVO's overflight of the summit this morning at 10 a.m. HST. The view here looks to the southwest, with the former overlook parking lot barely visible to the left of the gas plume.

Dramatic changes at Halema‘uma‘u could be seen through gases rising from the crater during HVO's overflight of the summit this morning at 10 a.m. HST. The view here looks to the southwest, with the former overlook parking lot barely visible to the left of the gas plume.

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