Images

Volcanic-gas plumes mark the sites where lava flows from Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō enter the ocean on Kīlauea's south coast (far left), the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō cone (left) on the East Rift Zone, and Halema‘uma‘u Crater at the summit (right). Structures visible in middle left primarily located around the Volcano Golf and Country Club and Kīlauea Military Camp.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field geologists track activity at fissure 8 (pictured in the background). Crews collect fissure 8 tephra (Pele's hair, pumice, and other lightweight volcanic glass fragments) for geochemical analyses and characterization of changes in lava fountain behavior.

The U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, the first volcano observatory in the United States, is located on the west rim of Kīlauea Volcano's summit caldera in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. A volcanic gas plume rises from a vent that opened in 2008 at the base of the south wall of Halema‘uma‘u Crater. Crater Rim Drive in foreground.

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (foreground) is located on the caldera rim of Kilauea Volcano, Hawai'i—the most active volcano in the world.  The observatory's location provides an excellent view of summit eruptive activity, which began in 2008.

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (foreground) is located on the caldera rim of Kilauea Volcano, Hawai'i—the most active volcano in the world.  The observatory's location provides an excellent view of summit eruptive activity, which began in 2008.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, the first volcano observatory in the United States, is located on the west rim of Kīlauea Volcano's summit caldera in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. A volcanic gas plume rises from a vent that opened in 2008 at the base of the south wall of Halema‘uma‘u Crater. Crater Rim Drive in foreground.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory perched on the west rim of Kīlauea Volcano's summit caldera, overlooks Halema‘uma‘u Crater, where a new vent that opened in March 2008 emits a volcanic gas plume.

Lidar instrument uses light pulses to measure distances to the ground surface in the Kīlauea Caldera, Hawaii. Measurements are used to make a Digital Elevation Model - a very accurate topographic map.

Narrow Gauge spring, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park.  Vent area is between the two trees on top of the travertine deposits.  Terraced pools form due to deposition of travertine from the fluids as they cool and degas carbon dioxide.

Incandescent arcs trace the path of lava fragments cast out during a tephra-jet explosion at the Waikupanaha ocean entry in 2008. This is a relatively small explosion, reaching a few tens of meters (yards) height, while one earlier in the day was nearly 70 meters (230 ft) in height.

When lava from the Pu'u 'Ō'ō-Kupaianaha eruption, active since 1983, meets the ocean, large littoral explosions can result.

Crater Lake Caldera with Wizard Island cinder cone and lava flows, some of the youngest features in the caldera as seen from Merriam Point. Viewed toward the south. Oregon

The early morning helicopter overflight of the lower East Rift Zone shows lava continuing to enter the sea at Ahalanui. The southern margin of the flow remains about a quarter mile from the boat ramp at Isaac Hale Park (jetty visible in the center left of the photo). View to the northeast.

Clear day during tradewind conditions at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i

Gas plume rising from Halema‘uma‘u Crater, Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i

Gas plume from Halema‘uma‘u Crater from the overlook at Jaggar Museum, Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i

Volcanic-gas plume rises from Halema‘uma‘u Crater, Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i

A plume of volcanic gases (chiefly water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide), tiny lava and rock particles, and droplets drifts southwest in the tradewinds from Halema‘uma‘u Crater.

Photograph of the Old Faithful Geyser erupting in Yellowstone Nationl Park. Old Faithful was named in 1870 during the Washburn-Langford-Doane Yellowstone expedition and was the first geyser in the Park to be named.

May 2, 2008, Chaitén volcano in Chile erupted with an ash column that rose to about 17 km (10 mi) and lasted for 6 hours. Activity continued into 2009, including this ash emission on May 27, 2008.

View of Chaitén lava dome looking north, on May 26, 2008. Note simultaneous explosion and effusion of new lava on left-central side of dome. Caldera is about 3 km wide.