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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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Animated GIF of enlarging summit event
Kīlauea Volcano — Animation of Summit Enlargement
Kīlauea Volcano — Animation of Summit Enlargement
Kīlauea Volcano — Animation of Summit Enlargement

This animated GIF shows a sequence of radar amplitude images that were acquired by the Italian Space Agency's Cosmo-SkyMed satellite system. The series shows changes to the caldera area of Kīlauea Volcano that occurred over May 5 at 6:12 a.m. HST, May 17 at 6:12 a.m.

This animated GIF shows a sequence of radar amplitude images that were acquired by the Italian Space Agency's Cosmo-SkyMed satellite system. The series shows changes to the caldera area of Kīlauea Volcano that occurred over May 5 at 6:12 a.m. HST, May 17 at 6:12 a.m.

view of a road with lava fragments
Kīlauea Volcano — Tephra on Leilani Street
Kīlauea Volcano — Tephra on Leilani Street
Kīlauea Volcano — Tephra on Leilani Street

Tephra (airborne lava fragments) erupted by the high lava fountains of fissure 8 was carried downwind, where the frothy rock fragments fell on Leilani Street, just past Kupono Street, in the Leilani Estates subdivision.

Tephra (airborne lava fragments) erupted by the high lava fountains of fissure 8 was carried downwind, where the frothy rock fragments fell on Leilani Street, just past Kupono Street, in the Leilani Estates subdivision.

Aerial of a lave entering the ocean
Kīlauea Volcano — Weak Ocean Entry
Kīlauea Volcano — Weak Ocean Entry
Kīlauea Volcano — Weak Ocean Entry

Scientists on the early morning overflight of Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone documented a very weak ocean entry. For the easternmost lobe, only a few small finger channels of lava were entering the ocean.

Scientists on the early morning overflight of Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone documented a very weak ocean entry. For the easternmost lobe, only a few small finger channels of lava were entering the ocean.

Overflight confirms weak ocean entry, in Kīlauea Volcano's lower Ea...
Overflight confirms weak ocean entry, in Kīlauea's LERZ
Overflight confirms weak ocean entry, in Kīlauea's LERZ
Overflight confirms weak ocean entry, in Kīlauea's LERZ

Scientists on the early morning overflight of Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone documented a very weak ocean entry. For the easternmost lobe, only a few small finger channels of lava were entering the ocean.

Scientists on the early morning overflight of Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone documented a very weak ocean entry. For the easternmost lobe, only a few small finger channels of lava were entering the ocean.

Aerial view of ocean entry
Kilauea Volcano — Ocean Entry Aerial
Kilauea Volcano — Ocean Entry Aerial
Kilauea Volcano — Ocean Entry Aerial

Close view of weak ocean entry at about 1:05 p.m. HST. Only small and intermittent "laze" plumes have been observed today.

Aerial view of Pohoiki Rd.
Kilauea Volcano — Pohoiki Road Lava Flow
Kilauea Volcano — Pohoiki Road Lava Flow
Kilauea Volcano — Pohoiki Road Lava Flow

View of the now-sluggish lava flow that crossed Pohoiki Road earlier today; the flow originated from fissure 8. This fissure was very active overnight, slowed this morning, and stopped by about noon.

View of the now-sluggish lava flow that crossed Pohoiki Road earlier today; the flow originated from fissure 8. This fissure was very active overnight, slowed this morning, and stopped by about noon.

Kīlauea Lower East Rift Zone Fissures and Flows, May 28, 3:00 p.m. ...
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 28, 3:00 p.m.
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 28, 3:00 p.m.
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures and Flows, May 28, 3:00 p.m.

Map as of 3:00 p.m. HST, May 28, 2018. Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015.

Aerial of fissure complex
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure Complex
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure Complex
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure Complex

View of the fissure complex looking toward the southwest (uprift) during this afternoon's overflight at about 1:15 p.m. HST. The small lava flows spreading to the southeast from the fissure complex (lower middle) originate in the area of between fissures 16 and 18.

View of the fissure complex looking toward the southwest (uprift) during this afternoon's overflight at about 1:15 p.m. HST. The small lava flows spreading to the southeast from the fissure complex (lower middle) originate in the area of between fissures 16 and 18.

Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure Complex
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure Complex
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure Complex

View of the fissurecomplex is toward the southeast during this afternoon's overflight of the lower East Rift Zone at about 1:15 p.m. HST. The lava channel in middle of photograph is filling with lava erupted from fissure 22.

View of the fissurecomplex is toward the southeast during this afternoon's overflight of the lower East Rift Zone at about 1:15 p.m. HST. The lava channel in middle of photograph is filling with lava erupted from fissure 22.

Aerial of fissure complex
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Channel and Fountains
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Channel and Fountains
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Channel and Fountains

Close view of lava channel in middle of the lava flow erupting from fissure 8 during this morning's overflight at about 7 a.m. HST. The tallest lava fountain is fissure 8, active since yesterday evening. The eruption rate at fissure 8 diminished significantly later in the morning.

Close view of lava channel in middle of the lava flow erupting from fissure 8 during this morning's overflight at about 7 a.m. HST. The tallest lava fountain is fissure 8, active since yesterday evening. The eruption rate at fissure 8 diminished significantly later in the morning.

Aerial of lava flow
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Flow Crossing Pohoiki Road
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Flow Crossing Pohoiki Road
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Flow Crossing Pohoiki Road

Aerial view of active lava flow crossing Pohoiki Road during an overflight this morning about 7 a.m. HST. Pohoiki Road cuts through middle of photograph.

Ash rises above Halema‘uma‘u within Kīlauea's summit caldera
Ash rises above Halema‘uma‘u within Kīlauea's summit caldera
Ash rises above Halema‘uma‘u within Kīlauea's summit caldera
Ash rises above Halema‘uma‘u within Kīlauea's summit caldera

Ash rises above Halema‘uma‘u within Kīlauea's summit caldera in this May 27, 2018, telephoto image from near Volcano House Hotel in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

Aerial photos
Kīlauea Volcano — Aerial of Eastern-Most Fissure Complex
Kīlauea Volcano — Aerial of Eastern-Most Fissure Complex
Kīlauea Volcano — Aerial of Eastern-Most Fissure Complex

Aerial view of the eastern-most end of the fissure complex (top right) and active lava channels and inactive flows south of the fissures (toward left side of photo) at about 12:30 p.m. HST; the ocean is out of view left side of photo. In this view, fissure 22 in top right is supplying most of the lava to the active channel.

Aerial view of the eastern-most end of the fissure complex (top right) and active lava channels and inactive flows south of the fissures (toward left side of photo) at about 12:30 p.m. HST; the ocean is out of view left side of photo. In this view, fissure 22 in top right is supplying most of the lava to the active channel.

Aerial photo of summit
Kīlauea Volcano — Aerial of Kīlauea's Summit
Kīlauea Volcano — Aerial of Kīlauea's Summit
Kīlauea Volcano — Aerial of Kīlauea's Summit

Aerial view of Kīlauea Volcano's summit caldera and an ash plume billowing from Halema‘uma‘u, a crater within the caldera.

Caldera imagery
Kīlauea Volcano — Enlargement of Summit Eruptive Event
Kīlauea Volcano — Enlargement of Summit Eruptive Event
Kīlauea Volcano — Enlargement of Summit Eruptive Event

This image shows radar data acquired by the European Space Agency's Sentinel-1 satellite over Kīlauea Volcano on May 19 at 6:30 PM HST (left) compared to May 25 at 6:30 PM HST (right). The satellite transmits a radar signal toward the surface and measures the strength of the return, with bright areas indicating a strong return and dark areas a weak return.

This image shows radar data acquired by the European Space Agency's Sentinel-1 satellite over Kīlauea Volcano on May 19 at 6:30 PM HST (left) compared to May 25 at 6:30 PM HST (right). The satellite transmits a radar signal toward the surface and measures the strength of the return, with bright areas indicating a strong return and dark areas a weak return.

Aerial view
Kīlauea Volcano — Ocean Entry
Kīlauea Volcano — Ocean Entry
Kīlauea Volcano — Ocean Entry

Aerial view of the ocean-entry areas at about 12:30 p.m. HST. Lava flowing into the ocean diminished overnight and this morning (note lack of obvious plume at the entry areas). View is toward the northwest. 

Aerial view of the ocean-entry areas at about 12:30 p.m. HST. Lava flowing into the ocean diminished overnight and this morning (note lack of obvious plume at the entry areas). View is toward the northwest. 

Lava flow advancing on raod
Kīlauea Volcano — Pāhoehoe Lava Advancement
Kīlauea Volcano — Pāhoehoe Lava Advancement
plume rising from ocean entry
Kīlauea Volcano — Ocean Entry and Laze
Kīlauea Volcano — Ocean Entry and Laze
Kīlauea Volcano — Ocean Entry and Laze

An aerial view, looking west, of the two active ocean entries on Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone. The large white plume (foreground) is the eastern ocean entry; the weaker, western plume can be seen in the distance.

An aerial view, looking west, of the two active ocean entries on Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone. The large white plume (foreground) is the eastern ocean entry; the weaker, western plume can be seen in the distance.

Kīlauea Volcano — ‘a‘ā flow
Kīlauea Volcano — ‘a‘ā flow
Kīlauea Volcano — ‘a‘ā flow

This ‘a‘ā flow, erupted from fissures 7 and 21, was approximately 3–4 meters (yards) high at the flow front and slowly advancing to the northeast in the Leilani Estates subdivision around 10:30 a.m. HST today.

This ‘a‘ā flow, erupted from fissures 7 and 21, was approximately 3–4 meters (yards) high at the flow front and slowly advancing to the northeast in the Leilani Estates subdivision around 10:30 a.m. HST today.

Kīlauea Lower East Rift Zone Fissures and Flows, May 25 at 2:00 p.m...
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures & Flows, May 25 at 2:00 p.m.
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures & Flows, May 25 at 2:00 p.m.
Kīlauea LERZ Fissures & Flows, May 25 at 2:00 p.m.

Map as of 2:00 p.m. HST, May 25. Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015.

Aerial of lava flows
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Channel Merges
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Channel Merges
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Channel Merges

Fissures 6 (left) and 13 (right), with lava flows merging into one channel that flows into the ocean at the western-most entry. Note plume in distance at the ocean entries (top left). Photo is from an overflight at mid day.

Fissures 6 (left) and 13 (right), with lava flows merging into one channel that flows into the ocean at the western-most entry. Note plume in distance at the ocean entries (top left). Photo is from an overflight at mid day.

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