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.
Distant view of Kīlauea Volcano's fissure 8 lava channel from HVO's early morning overflight on June 10, looking to the southeast. Bryson's cinder quarry is the brown patch just to the north of the channel.
Distant view of Kīlauea Volcano's fissure 8 lava channel from HVO's early morning overflight on June 10, looking to the southeast. Bryson's cinder quarry is the brown patch just to the north of the channel.
A closer view of the fissure 8 lava channel with the cinderquarry more clearly visible in the foreground (bottom of photo). During this morning's overflight, HVO geologists observed no new breakouts of lava near this quarry.
A closer view of the fissure 8 lava channel with the cinderquarry more clearly visible in the foreground (bottom of photo). During this morning's overflight, HVO geologists observed no new breakouts of lava near this quarry.
The fissure 8 lava flow reaches the ocean at Kapoho Bay, where a lava delta has formed and continues to grow as lava enters the sea.
The fissure 8 lava flow reaches the ocean at Kapoho Bay, where a lava delta has formed and continues to grow as lava enters the sea.
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.
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)Another explosion occurred at Halema‘uma‘u at 12:51 a.m. HST today, releasing energy equivalent to a magnitude-5.3 earthquake.
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.
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
A renourished dune with protective vegetation planted on the barrier island in Beach Haven, NJ
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Kīlauea Volcano — Halema`uma`u Cracking and Slumping
Kīlauea Volcano — Halema`uma`u Cracking and SlumpingCracking 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.
Kīlauea Volcano — Halema`uma`u Cracking and Slumping
Kīlauea Volcano — Halema`uma`u Cracking and SlumpingCracking 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.
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.
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).
) R/V Petrel leaving the dock in Beach Haven, NJ to begin the geophysical survey in May 2018.
) R/V Petrel leaving the dock in Beach Haven, NJ to begin the geophysical survey in May 2018.
Setting up a weatherport on St. Matthew Island, Alaska
Setting up a weatherport on St. Matthew Island, AlaskaScientists setting up a weatherport for shelter while conducting research on St. Matthew Island Alaska.
Setting up a weatherport on St. Matthew Island, Alaska
Setting up a weatherport on St. Matthew Island, AlaskaScientists setting up a weatherport for shelter while conducting research on St. Matthew Island Alaska.
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.
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.
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.