Images

On July 22, HVO scientists surveyed the floor of the down-dropped block within Kīlauea caldera for ​diffuse volcanic gas emissions. This particular part of the caldera floor subsided during Kīlauea's collapse events in 2018.

An HVO scientist samples the gas around a crack identified as emitting elevated levels of carbon dioxide (a volcanic gas) on the down-dropped block within Kīlauea caldera. The sample will later be analyzed to determine its complete chemical composition. This work was conducted within a closed area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, with park permission.

This wide-angle aerial view looks southeast over Kīlauea's summit caldera, with the recently active lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u visible in the lower right. On the left side of the photo, the large cliffs formed during the 2018 collapses are visible. Kīlauea Iki can be seen in the upper left. USGS photo by M. Patrick, taken on July 22, 2021.

Visible and thermal infrared images of Yellowstone acquired on July 17, 2021.  In the visible image, Landsat 8 channels 4-3-2 are assigned red-green-blue colors (respectively) to simulate natural color.  In thermal infrared image, bright pixels are warmer, and dark pixels are cooler.  The full satellite images are clipped to the boundaries of Yellowst

Seismogram from station YTP in Yellowstone National Park showing earthquakes from the swarm beneath Yellowstone Lake that began late on July 15, 2021. Each row represents 30 minutes of seismic data.

This close-up view of the western fissure within Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea was captured on Friday, July 16, 2021. HVO scientists were making a routine observational visit to the crater rim; no changes to the inactive lava lake were detected.

Geologic block-diagram and conceptual model of possible flow systems associated with thermal areas at Mammoth Hot Spring (MHS) area from Sorey (1991) (USGS Water-Resources Investigations Report 91-4052).  Also shown are the Bear Creek Hot Springs (BC) and La Duke Hot Spring (LD).

A Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist uses a laser rangefinder to survey points across the solidified lava lake surface in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. No significant changes in lake surface elevation have been observed in recent weeks. USGS photo by M. Patrick taken on July 9, 2021.

A view looking north into Halema‘uma‘u on July 2, 2021. Although eruptive activity has paused at the summit of Kīlauea, HVO geologists still monitor the lava lake and summit area regularly. Lava lake surface depths remain the same over the past few weeks.

At left, a map of select recent volcanoes and volcanic areas in Canada (volcano location data from: Global GIS: volcanoes of the world; volcano basic data. [Shapefile]. American Geological Institute.

Epicenters of 6,188 earthquakes in the Hebgen Lake region since 1990 determined by the University of Utah Seismograph Stations and the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology. All epicenters have horizontal uncertainties of 1.0 km or less.

Blue-tinged gases are seen above the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater in this image taken from the southwest rim on June 25, 2021, at 12:37 p.m. HST.

USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory Physical Science Technician Brian Meyers installs a data telemetry antenna on a volcano monitoring station at Mount St. Helens. A DOAS scanner is mounted above the flat-panel antenna at the top of the mast.

A view of Halema‘uma‘u on June 11, 2021, at 12:20 p.m. HST. Although eruptive activity has paused at the Kīlauea summit, HVO geologists still monitor the lava lake and summit area regularly. They make observations to note any physical changes in the landscape or visual changes in gas emissions.

Comparison of Porkchop Geyser in September 1984 (left) and August 1986 (right).  The Geyser entered a period of near-constant eruption in 1985, and the pool disappeared; it exploded on September 5, 1989.

Map of Yellowstone National Park showing the major rivers and the continental divide (red dashed). Yellowstone Caldera is oulined by purple dashed line. Water flowing south and west of the divide ends up in the Pacific Ocean, whereas water north and east of the divide ends up in the Gulf of Mexico.

Upper map shows the flow path of hot spring water from the Old Faithful area through the Firehole, Madison, Missouri and Mississippi Rivers to the Gulf of Mexico. Lower map shows the flow path of hot spring water from south of the continental divide through the Lewis, Snake and Columbia Rivers to the Pacific Ocean.

On June 8, 2021, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory conducted a routine helicopter overflight and fieldwork at the summit of Kīlauea. Here, a geophysicist returns to the helicopter after making Global Positioning Systems (GPS) measurements. These surveys measure small changes in the ground surface caused by subsurface magma movement.

No eruptive activity or major changes were observed during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Kīlauea summit monitoring shift on June 8, 2021. An area near the north wall of Halema‘uma‘u continues to visibly emit gases, though the eruption has paused. The most recent sulfur dioxide emission rate, measured on June 4, remains slightly elevated at 54 tonnes per day.

Portions of Crater Rim Drive, which was damaged during the 2018 Kīlauea summit collapse, are visible from the south rim of Halema‘uma‘u. The lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u and the east wall of Halema‘uma‘u crater are visible in the background. This area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park remains closed to the public due to hazardous conditions.

A view of the crusted over lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u at Kīlauea summit, taken during a helicopter overflight on June 8, 2021. No incandescence (red lava) has been visible on the solidified lava lake surface for over two weeks. Light degassing continues in a few areas around the margin of the lava lake, mainly along the north crater wall (bottom left).