Multimedia Gallery

The interaction of molten lava flowing into cool seawater causes pulsating "littoral explosions" that throw spatter (fragments of molten lava) and pieces of solidified glassy lava (black sand, Pele's hair, limu o Pele) high into the air. In this aerial view of the Kapoho ocean entry, these dark-colored lava particles are blasted skyward through billowing white clouds of

Three closely spaced lava fountains at fissure 8

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Status of Kīlauea Volcano, June 11, 2018, Jessica Ball, USGS Volcanologist

Video of the lava ocean entry during today's late afternoon overflight of the lower East Rift Zone. The

Video of the lava fountain and flow (left) from 

USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center personnel aboard Stockton University's R/V Petrel under survey offshore of Beach Haven, NJ in June 2018. The USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program is working to characterize the sea floor and shallow substrate in nearshore waters, using high-resolution geophysical techniques, sediment sampling, and sea-floor photography

Clear conditions at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō provided good views into the crater. The crater floor collapsed, and the lava lake drained, a little more than a month ago. The crater now has a funnel-shape

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Status of Kīlauea Volcano, June 7, 2018. Jessica Ball, USGS Volcanologist.

This is a video compilation from a helicopter overflight of Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone on June 6, 2018, around 6:30 AM. The video shows the fissure 8 lava fountain feeding a channelized lava flow that travels northeast around the Kapoho cone, and then flows toward the south to enter the ocean at Kapoho Bay and Vacationland. The ocean entry has completely filled

This is a video compilation from a helicopter overflight of Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone on June 6, 2018, around 6:30 AM. The video shows the 

This 3D thermal map shows the new geometry of Halema‘uma‘u Crater. Magma

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) conducted a mission on Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone to collect video of flowing lava in the upper lava channel of fissure 8. Scientists use the video to assess lava flow velocities, which are measured by tracking surface features in the stationary video view. Using UAS for this type of investigation has many advantages because the

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Status of Kīlauea Volcano, 9:30am HST, June 6, 2018, Jessica Ball, USGS Volcanologist
 

HVO's mid-day overflight on June 5 shows ongoing partial collapse of Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. To the north of the former visitor Overlook parking area (closed in 2008) is the site of the former 

The fissure 8 

U.S. Geological survey scientists use fly-overs to track active lava flows. 

U.S. Geological survey scientists use fly-overs to track active lava flows. 

This short video compilation shows conditions at Kapoho Bay during a helicopter overflight on June 4, 2018, around 6:15 a.m. HST and again around 1:38 p.m. HST. By 6:15 a.m., 

Video from helicopter overflight of Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone on June 4, 2018, shows lava 

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Update of Kīlauea Volcano for June 4, 2018. On Camera: Jessica Ball, USGS Volcanologist.
 

Beginning on June 3, lava from 

This video was taken on the June 3 7AM HST helicopter overflight, hovering offshore and looking up the flowfront. Nearly all of the front was active and advancing; advance rates were estimated at an average of 250 feet/hour (76 m/hr), and as of 7AM the flow was 500 yards (457 m) from the ocean.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory status of Kilauea volcano in Hawaii on June 3, 2018. On camera: Jessica Ball, USGS Volcanologist