Images

A closeup view of the south cone at the summit of Kīlauea, showing the semi-molten nature of the cone flanks. During fountaining, lava accumulates on the cone's flanks at such a high rate that the material remains hot and semi-molten, despite the appearance of cooled, solid material on the surface.

An orange five-gallon plastic bucket, secured by heavy weights, was one of several used to collect tephra from the ongoing lava fountaining at the summit of Kīlauea. The episode 13 fountaining, however, cast large bombs (some of them molten) in this particular area, battering the ground.

An HVO geologist returns from a tephra collection bucket at the summit of Kīlauea, carrying a new sample. The outgassing plume from the vents is carried over the roadway, now covered by over 50 cm (20 inches) of tephra in places. All samples are collected in coordination with, and after receiving permission from, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. USGS photo by M.

On the morning of March 11, the north vent was producing lava fountains about 50 meters (160 feet) high, with fountaining emerging from a small, sloshing pond held within the walls of the north vent cone. The pond can be seen in the lower left portion of the photo, as well as the lava spillway which exits through a notch in the cone that is obscured in this view.

A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist uses a handheld laser rangefinder on the southwest rim of Kaluapele (Kīlauea summit caldera) to measure the height of the recently active cones within Halema‘uma‘u. USGS photo taken on March 12, 2025, by M. Patrick.

The section of Crater Rim Drive downwind of the recent fountaining, and in an area closed to the public due to volcanic hazards, has been covered by numerous layers of tephra in the past several months. The tire tracks are centered over the Crater Rim Drive roadway, where USGS scientists access critical volcano monitoring sites.

On the Halema‘uma‘u crater floor, the front of a fast-moving channelized lava flow from the north vent fountain was composed of slabby pāhoehoe. USGS photo taken on March 11, 2025, by M. Patrick.

During a March 11 Hawaiian Volcano Observatory eruption monitoring flight at Kīlauea summit, scientists landed to make observations and collect samples. At the front of the channelized flow from the episode 13 north vent fountain in Halema‘uma‘u crater, a USGS geologist walks the flow margin to find a safe spot to collect a molten lava sample.

A USGS geologist uses a handheld laser rangefinder to measure eruption features during the 13^th episode of the Kīlauea summit eruption. USGS photo taken on March 11 from the western rim of Halema‘uma‘u by M. Patrick.

Episode 13 fountaining began early on March 11 and continued through an HVO helicopter overflight of the Kīlauea summit region around 10:00 a.m. Visibility was slightly hampered by passing showers.

On March 11, HVO geologists observed episode 13 of the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption from the western caldera rim. Lava fountains from the north vent (left) and south vent (right) were feeding channelized flows across the floor of Halema‘uma‘u crater. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

A telephoto view of the northern vent fountain within Halema‘uma‘u crater. The steep septum separating the north and south fountains was under constant barrage today by molten lava falling from the fountains, with the steep walls on the inside of the cones in a state of constant dripping and flowing back into crater. USGS photo by M.

This presentation was prepared for the AGU 2024-2025 Distinguished Lecture Series. This, and other lectures, provide a high-level synthesis of different topics for general science audiences.

This presentation discusses the challenge of volcano monitoring, eruption forecasting, and protecting vulnerable populations. 

A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist uses a laser rangefinder to collect fountain height measurements from the eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea volcano. Fountain heights reached approximately 30–35 m (100–115 ft) on the morning of December 30, 2024.

A close-up photo taken just before dawn of the lava fountains in the western part of Halema‘uma‘u crater, at Kīlauea summit, on December 30, 2024. These lava fountains are consistently reaching 30 m (100 ft) high and building a spatter cone that is about 20 m (65 ft) high, 95 m (310 ft) long, and 60 m (200 ft) wide. Photo by U.S. Geological Survey geologist D.

Aerial view looking to the southwest of the active eruption in Halema‘uma‘u crater on December 30, 2024. The lava fountains are reaching up to 30 m (100 ft) high and feeding the incandescent lava in the foreground. The current activity is concentrated in the western quarter of the crater floor. Photo by U.S. Geological Survey geologist D. Downs.

This aerial photo was captured during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory overflight on the morning of Monday, December 30, 2024, providing a south-looking telephoto overhead view of the lava fountains within Halema‘uma‘u at Kīlauea's summit. USGS photo by N. Deligne.

This annotated image shows the lava flows and tephra deposits of the southwest portion of Kaluapele (Kīlauea's summit caldera). The photo was taken during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory overflight on the morning of Monday, December 30, 2024, with a view to the east.

This oblique aerial photo was captured during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory overflight on the morning of Monday, December 30, 2024, providing a southwest-looking view of the active fountains of the ongoing eruption within Halema‘uma‘u at Kīlauea's summit. USGS photo by N. Deligne.

An Aerial view of two eruptive cones in the southwest corner of Halema‘uma‘u crater at Kīlauea's summit on the morning of December 30, 2024. The fissure fountains reached heights of approximately 30 meters (100 ft) and lava flows continue to cover a portion of the crater floor. USGS photo by H. Winslow.

Photo of the lava fountains and flows within the western part of Halema‘uma‘u crater just before dawn on December 30, 2024. The lava fountains have started to build scoria cones around themselves with the fountains consistently reaching to 30 m (100 ft) high. These fountains are feeding lava flows that have covered the western quarter of the crater floor.