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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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fissure 8 on Kīlauea
fissure 8 on Kīlauea
fissure 8 on Kīlauea
fissure 8 on Kīlauea

This ‘a‘ā flow erupted from fissure 8 on Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone on June 1, 2018, shows how the interior of a lava flow remains incandescently hot even though surface cooling forms a crust of solid rubble.

This ‘a‘ā flow erupted from fissure 8 on Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone on June 1, 2018, shows how the interior of a lava flow remains incandescently hot even though surface cooling forms a crust of solid rubble.

Kīlauea Lower East Rift Zone Fissures and Flows, June 1, 6:00 p.m. ...
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, June 1, 6:00 p.m.
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, June 1, 6:00 p.m.
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, June 1, 6:00 p.m.

Map as of 6:00 p.m. HST, June 1, 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 6:00 p.m. HST, June 1, 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 Volcano — Caldera Changes (May 23 - 31)
Kīlauea Volcano — Caldera Changes (May 23 - 31)
Kīlauea Volcano — Caldera Changes (May 23 - 31)

This animated GIF shows a pair of radar amplitude images that were acquired by the Italian Space Agency's Cosmo-SkyMed satellite system. The images illustrate changes to the calderaarea of Kīlauea Volcano that occurred between May 23 at 6:00 p.m. HST and May 31 at 6:00 p.m. HST.

This animated GIF shows a pair of radar amplitude images that were acquired by the Italian Space Agency's Cosmo-SkyMed satellite system. The images illustrate changes to the calderaarea of Kīlauea Volcano that occurred between May 23 at 6:00 p.m. HST and May 31 at 6:00 p.m. HST.

View of fissure 8 fountaining
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8

Viewed from the intersection of Nohea and Leilani Streets at 10:15AM HST on June 1, the Fissure 8 lava fountain (to the right) appears to have decreased in height from previous sustained heights of 260 feet.

Viewed from the intersection of Nohea and Leilani Streets at 10:15AM HST on June 1, the Fissure 8 lava fountain (to the right) appears to have decreased in height from previous sustained heights of 260 feet.

Aerial photo of vog
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Lava Flow
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Lava Flow
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Lava Flow

Fissure 8 continues to feed lava into multiple flow lobes. One lobe is advancing through agricultural lands toward the northeast, as shown in this image taken from a helicopter overflight on June 1, 2018, at 6:21 AM.

Fissure 8 continues to feed lava into multiple flow lobes. One lobe is advancing through agricultural lands toward the northeast, as shown in this image taken from a helicopter overflight on June 1, 2018, at 6:21 AM.

Kīlauea Volcano: What's new and what's not...
Kīlauea: What's new and what's not
Kīlauea: What's new and what's not
Kīlauea: What's new and what's not

An aerial view of Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano captured from an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) overflight video on May 31, 2018. Limited UAS flights into this hazardous area are conducted with permission and coordination with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park to collect visual information on this changing eruption site.

An aerial view of Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano captured from an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) overflight video on May 31, 2018. Limited UAS flights into this hazardous area are conducted with permission and coordination with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park to collect visual information on this changing eruption site.

Beach at the southern end of Long Beach Island in the town of Holgate, NJ.
Long Beach Island, Holgate, N.J.
Long Beach Island, Holgate, N.J.
Long Beach Island, Holgate, N.J.

Beach at the southern end of Long Beach Island in the town of Holgate, NJ.  Note the large eroded scarp on beach with person as scale. 

Wind erosion in Kansas
Recently plowed crop field in Kansas suffering from wind erosion
Recently plowed crop field in Kansas suffering from wind erosion
Recently plowed crop field in Kansas suffering from wind erosion

Abandoned center-pivot irrigated cropland results in destabilized sandy soils that are badly eroded by wind. An example of a recently plowed field in Kansas. 

Select CRP fields for on-site assessments
Select CRP fields for on-site assessments
Select CRP fields for on-site assessments
Select CRP fields for on-site assessments

This map shows the distribution of select Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) fields for on-site assessments. 

This map shows the distribution of select Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) fields for on-site assessments. 

Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano captured from an Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano captured from an Unmanne
Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano captured from an Unmanne
Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano captured from an Unmanne

An aerial view of Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano captured from an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) overflight video on May 31, 2018. Limited UAS flights into this hazardous area are conducted with permission and coordination with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park to collect visual information on this changing eruption site.

An aerial view of Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano captured from an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) overflight video on May 31, 2018. Limited UAS flights into this hazardous area are conducted with permission and coordination with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park to collect visual information on this changing eruption site.

Kīlauea Lower East Rift Zone Fissures and Flows, May 31, 2:00 p.m. ...
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 31, 2:00 p.m.
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 31, 2:00 p.m.
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 31, 2:00 p.m.

Map as of 2:00 p.m. HST, May 31, 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 2:00 p.m. HST, May 31, 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 Lower East Rift Zone Fissures and Flows, May 31, 9:00 a.m. ...
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 31, 9:00 a.m.
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 31, 9:00 a.m.
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 31, 9:00 a.m.

Map as of 9:00 a.m. HST, May 31, 2018. Given the dynamic nature of Kīlauea 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 9:00 a.m. HST, May 31, 2018. Given the dynamic nature of Kīlauea 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.

Aerial photo of fissures
Kīlauea Volcano — Advancing Lobes from Fissure 8
Kīlauea Volcano — Advancing Lobes from Fissure 8
Kīlauea Volcano — Advancing Lobes from Fissure 8

Helicopter overflight shows advancing lobes from fissure 8 (fissure 8 is not pictured but located to the right, out of view). Advance rates were less than 100 yards per hour for the three lobes of the flow, as measured during the overnight hours.

Helicopter overflight shows advancing lobes from fissure 8 (fissure 8 is not pictured but located to the right, out of view). Advance rates were less than 100 yards per hour for the three lobes of the flow, as measured during the overnight hours.

Sunrise looking photo but created by lava fountaining in the early morning.
Kīlauea Volcano — Early Morning Fissure 8 Activity
Kīlauea Volcano — Early Morning Fissure 8 Activity
Kīlauea Volcano — Early Morning Fissure 8 Activity

Crews make visual observations of activity at fissure 8 around 5:30 a.m. HST. Fountain heights this morning continue to reach 70 to 80 m (230 to 260 ft) above ground level.

Aerial photo of lava flows
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 18 Lava Flow
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 18 Lava Flow
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 18 Lava Flow

Lava from fissure 18 travels to the southeast (lower left of photo). The flow front that had approached the ocean yesterday has stalled. This view is looking uprift, with fissure 8 in the distance (upper right of photo).

Lava from fissure 18 travels to the southeast (lower left of photo). The flow front that had approached the ocean yesterday has stalled. This view is looking uprift, with fissure 8 in the distance (upper right of photo).

Lava on a street
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava on Kahukai Street
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava on Kahukai Street
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava on Kahukai Street

Lava from fissure 8 advances on Kahukai Street. Lava in this area is as much as 3.5 yards in height.

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