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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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Kīlauea lower East Rift Zone eruption...
Kīlauea LERZ eruption
Kīlauea LERZ eruption
Kīlauea LERZ eruption

During HVO's overflight this morning, the fissure 22 fountain was not as high as several days ago, but was still erupting significant lava.

During HVO's overflight this morning, the fissure 22 fountain was not as high as several days ago, but was still erupting significant lava.

Kīlauea Lower East Rift Zone Fissures and Flows, May 24 at 2:20 p.m...
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures & Flows, May 24 at 2:20 p.m.
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures & Flows, May 24 at 2:20 p.m.
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures & Flows, May 24 at 2:20 p.m.

Map as of 2:20 p.m. HST, May 24. Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015.

Kīlauea summit explosion...
Kīlauea summit explosion
Kīlauea summit explosion
Kīlauea summit explosion

Poor weather at the summit of Kīlauea has obscured views of Halema‘uma‘u for much of today, but a brief break in the weather around noon allowed HVO's webcam to capture this image of an ash plume rising from the crater at 12:17 p.m. HST.

Poor weather at the summit of Kīlauea has obscured views of Halema‘uma‘u for much of today, but a brief break in the weather around noon allowed HVO's webcam to capture this image of an ash plume rising from the crater at 12:17 p.m. HST.

Aerial over lava eruption
Kīlauea Volcano —
Kīlauea Volcano —
Kīlauea Volcano —

During HVO's overflight this morning, the fissure 22 fountain was not as high as several days ago, but was still erupting significant lava.

During HVO's overflight this morning, the fissure 22 fountain was not as high as several days ago, but was still erupting significant lava.

plume from a crater
Kīlauea Volcano — Eruption at Halema`uma`u Crater (May 24, 2018)
Kīlauea Volcano — Eruption at Halema`uma`u Crater (May 24, 2018)
Kīlauea Volcano — Eruption at Halema`uma`u Crater (May 24, 2018)

View of a rising ash plume from Halema‘uma‘u, a crater at the summit of Kīlauea, late yesterday (May 24, 2018), as seen from the caldera rim near Volcano House.

Summit explosion from webcam
Kīlauea Volcano — Summit Plume Rising
Kīlauea Volcano — Summit Plume Rising
Kīlauea Volcano — Summit Plume Rising

Poor weather at the summit of Kīlauea has obscured views of Halema‘uma‘u for much of today, but a brief break in the weather around noon allowed HVO's webcam to capture this image of an ash plume rising from the crater at 12:17 p.m. HST.

Poor weather at the summit of Kīlauea has obscured views of Halema‘uma‘u for much of today, but a brief break in the weather around noon allowed HVO's webcam to capture this image of an ash plume rising from the crater at 12:17 p.m. HST.

Plume rising from the ocean entry
Kīlauea Volcano — View of Three Ocean Entries
Kīlauea Volcano — View of Three Ocean Entries
Kīlauea Volcano — View of Three Ocean Entries

During today's overflight of the ongoing lower East Rift Zone eruption, HVO geologists noted that fissures 6, 13 and 22 were still erupting, with two channelized flows reaching the ocean.

During today's overflight of the ongoing lower East Rift Zone eruption, HVO geologists noted that fissures 6, 13 and 22 were still erupting, with two channelized flows reaching the ocean.

A Yosemite toad on a road
Yosemite Toad on a Road
Yosemite Toad on a Road
Yosemite Toad on a Road

A Yosemite toad on a road. Amphibians and reptiles are particularly susceptible to negative effects of roads within their habitat. Many are slow moving, do not avoid roads, and are simply too small for drivers to see and avoid. During rains many amphibians travel long distances regardless of the presence of intersecting roadways.

A Yosemite toad on a road. Amphibians and reptiles are particularly susceptible to negative effects of roads within their habitat. Many are slow moving, do not avoid roads, and are simply too small for drivers to see and avoid. During rains many amphibians travel long distances regardless of the presence of intersecting roadways.

A Yosemite toad looks through a mesh fence, holding itself up on its back legs
A Yosemite Toad Looks Through A Fence
A Yosemite Toad Looks Through A Fence
A Yosemite Toad Looks Through A Fence

A Yosemite toad looks through mesh fencing alongside a road used to mitigate negative road impacts and guide amphibians towards safe passages.

A Yosemite toad looks through mesh fencing alongside a road used to mitigate negative road impacts and guide amphibians towards safe passages.

Helicopter overflight of Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone sho...
Helicopter overflight of Kīlauea's LERZ shows the lava channel emer...
Helicopter overflight of Kīlauea's LERZ shows the lava channel emer...
Helicopter overflight of Kīlauea's LERZ shows the lava channel emer...

Helicopter overflight of Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone shows the lava channel emerging from Fissure 22 (not visible, but to the center, far right of the image). The lava is flowing downhill, from right to left in the photo.

Helicopter overflight of Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone shows the lava channel emerging from Fissure 22 (not visible, but to the center, far right of the image). The lava is flowing downhill, from right to left in the photo.

Kīlauea Lower East Rift Zone Fissures and Flows, May 23 at 12:00 p....
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 23 at 12:00 p.m
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 23 at 12:00 p.m
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 23 at 12:00 p.m

Map as of 12:00 p.m. HST, May 23. On the main map, light purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015. On the inset map (lower right), the dark purple area indicates locations of Kīlauea Volcano's East Rift Zone, Southwest Rift Zone, and summit, and the light purple area indicates the extent of Kīlauea.

Map as of 12:00 p.m. HST, May 23. On the main map, light purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015. On the inset map (lower right), the dark purple area indicates locations of Kīlauea Volcano's East Rift Zone, Southwest Rift Zone, and summit, and the light purple area indicates the extent of Kīlauea.

Kīlauea volcanic ash sample
Kīlauea volcanic ash sample
Kīlauea volcanic ash sample
Kīlauea volcanic ash sample

This close-up image (5000x magnification) of a Kīlauea volcanic ash sample collected on May 23, 2018, was captured by a scanning electron microscope. Visible on the ash surface are tiny salt crystals that can be leached from the ash. Most of the salts in this image are aluminum sodium sulfate and calcium sulfate.

This close-up image (5000x magnification) of a Kīlauea volcanic ash sample collected on May 23, 2018, was captured by a scanning electron microscope. Visible on the ash surface are tiny salt crystals that can be leached from the ash. Most of the salts in this image are aluminum sodium sulfate and calcium sulfate.

Ash fall from summit plume
Kīlauea Volcano — Ash Fall from Summit Plume
Kīlauea Volcano — Ash Fall from Summit Plume
Kīlauea Volcano — Ash Fall from Summit Plume

A pulse of ash rises from Halema‘uma‘u as part of semi-continuous emissions at Kīlauea's summit today. Ash can be seen falling from the plume as it is blown downwind in this image, taken around 3:28 p.m. HST.

A pulse of ash rises from Halema‘uma‘u as part of semi-continuous emissions at Kīlauea's summit today. Ash can be seen falling from the plume as it is blown downwind in this image, taken around 3:28 p.m. HST.

Aerial view of lava flow from fissure 22
Kīlauea Volcano — Lower East Rift Zone Aerial
Kīlauea Volcano — Lower East Rift Zone Aerial
Kīlauea Volcano — Lower East Rift Zone Aerial

Helicopter overflight of Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone shows the lava channelemerging from Fissure 22 (not visible, but to the center, far right of the image). The lava is flowing downhill, from right to left in the photo.

Helicopter overflight of Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone shows the lava channelemerging from Fissure 22 (not visible, but to the center, far right of the image). The lava is flowing downhill, from right to left in the photo.

Methane gas burning blue during the night on a street
Kīlauea Volcano — Methane Gas Flames
Kīlauea Volcano — Methane Gas Flames
Kīlauea Volcano — Methane Gas Flames

One of the most intriguing images from Kilauea eruption near the Leilani Estates Subdivision is the blue burning flame of methane gas, observed in the cracks on Kahukai Street, on May 22, around 11:30 PM, HST. The view is to the southeast.

One of the most intriguing images from Kilauea eruption near the Leilani Estates Subdivision is the blue burning flame of methane gas, observed in the cracks on Kahukai Street, on May 22, around 11:30 PM, HST. The view is to the southeast.

Laze plume from ocean entry
Kīlauea Volcano — Ocean Entry
Kīlauea Volcano — Ocean Entry
Kīlauea Volcano — Ocean Entry

View from a helicopter of the channelized lava flow and active ocean entry. The fissure complex is visible in the upper center of the image.

View from a helicopter of the channelized lava flow and active ocean entry. The fissure complex is visible in the upper center of the image.

USFS researcher holding Yosemite toads
Rare Yosemite Toad (Anaxyrus canorus)
Rare Yosemite Toad (Anaxyrus canorus)
Rare Yosemite Toad (Anaxyrus canorus)

U.S. Forest Service researcher Stephanie Barnes holds a rare Yosemite toad (Anaxyrus canorus).

Vegetation in foreground up on a beach bluff above flat beach with waves.
Sunset State Beach Video Camera 1 bright image
Sunset State Beach Video Camera 1 bright image
Sunset State Beach Video Camera 1 bright image

Two video cameras overlook the coast at Sunset State Beach in Watsonville, California. Camera 1 looks northwest while Camera 2 looks north. Every half hour during daylight hours, the cameras collect snapshots and video for 10 minutes. The various imagery collected:

Two video cameras overlook the coast at Sunset State Beach in Watsonville, California. Camera 1 looks northwest while Camera 2 looks north. Every half hour during daylight hours, the cameras collect snapshots and video for 10 minutes. The various imagery collected:

Vegetation in foreground up on a beach bluff above flat beach with waves.
Sunset State Beach Video Camera 1 dark image
Sunset State Beach Video Camera 1 dark image
Sunset State Beach Video Camera 1 dark image

Two video cameras overlook the coast at Sunset State Beach in Watsonville, California. Camera 1 looks northwest while Camera 2 looks north. Every half hour during daylight hours, the cameras collect snapshots and video for 10 minutes. The various imagery collected:

Two video cameras overlook the coast at Sunset State Beach in Watsonville, California. Camera 1 looks northwest while Camera 2 looks north. Every half hour during daylight hours, the cameras collect snapshots and video for 10 minutes. The various imagery collected:

Vegetation in foreground up on a beach bluff above flat beach with waves.
Sunset State Beach Video Camera 1 time-exposure
Sunset State Beach Video Camera 1 time-exposure
Sunset State Beach Video Camera 1 time-exposure

Two video cameras overlook the coast at Sunset State Beach in Watsonville, California. Camera 1 looks northwest while Camera 2 looks north. Every half hour during daylight hours, the cameras collect snapshots and video for 10 minutes. The various imagery collected:

Two video cameras overlook the coast at Sunset State Beach in Watsonville, California. Camera 1 looks northwest while Camera 2 looks north. Every half hour during daylight hours, the cameras collect snapshots and video for 10 minutes. The various imagery collected:

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