Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Videos

Volcano Hazard Program videos.

Filter Total Items: 809
Pulse of ash and flashes of incandescence
Pulse of ash and flashes of incandescence
Pulse of ash and flashes of incandescence

Video shows an ash-emission event at 6:53pm on August 31 from the vent in Halema`uma`u crater. The event begins with a robust pulse of ash, followed shortly by flashes of bright incandescence that rise about 50 yards above the vent.

Video shows an ash-emission event at 6:53pm on August 31 from the vent in Halema`uma`u crater. The event begins with a robust pulse of ash, followed shortly by flashes of bright incandescence that rise about 50 yards above the vent.

Fifth explosive eruption
Fifth explosive eruption
Fifth explosive eruption

Movie shows a small explosive eruption, at 7:37 am, from the vent in Halema`uma`u crater. The normal white degassing plume is rapidly overwhelmed by a more robust, ash-rich plume that rises rapidly from the vent. This is the fifth explosive eruption since the new vent at Halema`uma`u appeared in mid-March.

Movie shows a small explosive eruption, at 7:37 am, from the vent in Halema`uma`u crater. The normal white degassing plume is rapidly overwhelmed by a more robust, ash-rich plume that rises rapidly from the vent. This is the fifth explosive eruption since the new vent at Halema`uma`u appeared in mid-March.

Awesome movie! Ash-rich phase
Awesome movie! Ash-rich phase
Awesome movie! Ash-rich phase

Movie shows an example of an ash-rich phase at Halema`uma`u crater. This event occurred at 3:40pm. These sporadic ash-rich phases are probably due to small rockfalls within the vent.

Movie shows an example of an ash-rich phase at Halema`uma`u crater. This event occurred at 3:40pm. These sporadic ash-rich phases are probably due to small rockfalls within the vent.

Low dome fountain on TEB rootless shield 3
Low dome fountain on TEB rootless shield 3
Low dome fountain on TEB rootless shield 3

Movie showing the low dome fountain on TEB rootless shield 3; video of spattering from the vent on the west side of Pu`u `Ō `ō crater taken with thermal camera; and video of the vent on the east wall of Pu`u `Ō `ō crater taken with thermal camera.

Movie showing the low dome fountain on TEB rootless shield 3; video of spattering from the vent on the west side of Pu`u `Ō `ō crater taken with thermal camera; and video of the vent on the east wall of Pu`u `Ō `ō crater taken with thermal camera.

Lava fountain arch at rootless shield 3
Lava fountain arch at rootless shield 3
Lava fountain arch at rootless shield 3

Lava fountain arch at rootless shield 3

Flying high over Halema`uma`u, Waikupanaha bench
Flying high over Halema`uma`u, Waikupanaha bench
Flying high over Halema`uma`u, Waikupanaha bench

Flying at about the elevation of the plume top, this video shows a number of aspects of the ongoing activity at Halema`uma`u Crater. The mostly whitish plume rises to an elevation of about 5,500 feet and blows first to the southwest but apparently spreads to the west over the Ka`u Desert. Mauna Loa rises above the clouds in the background.

Flying at about the elevation of the plume top, this video shows a number of aspects of the ongoing activity at Halema`uma`u Crater. The mostly whitish plume rises to an elevation of about 5,500 feet and blows first to the southwest but apparently spreads to the west over the Ka`u Desert. Mauna Loa rises above the clouds in the background.

New gas jet at Pu`u `O`o Crater
New gas jet at Pu`u `O`o Crater
New gas jet at Pu`u `O`o Crater

Closeup of the new vent from a hovering helicopter showing hazy views of incandescence deep inside the vent.

Closeup of the new vent from a hovering helicopter showing hazy views of incandescence deep inside the vent.

Littoral explosions at Waikupanaha entry
Littoral explosions at Waikupanaha entry
Littoral explosions at Waikupanaha entry

Movie of the littoral explosions at Waikupanaha

Halema`uma`u
Halema`uma`u
Halema`uma`u

Video clip taken from the southeast rim of Halema`uma`u at 3 p.m. on April 2.

Video clip taken from the southeast rim of Halema`uma`u at 3 p.m. on April 2.

10th anniversary of Kīlauea volcano's summit eruption
10th anniversary of Kīlauea volcano's summit eruption
10th anniversary of Kīlauea volcano's summit eruption

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the eruption within Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. When the vent first opened on March 19, 2008, it formed a small pit about 115 feet (35 m) wide. Over the past decade, that pit (informally called the "Overlook crater") has grown into a gaping hole about 919 feet by 656 feet (280 x 200 m) in size.

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the eruption within Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. When the vent first opened on March 19, 2008, it formed a small pit about 115 feet (35 m) wide. Over the past decade, that pit (informally called the "Overlook crater") has grown into a gaping hole about 919 feet by 656 feet (280 x 200 m) in size.

TEB rootless shield flank failure
TEB rootless shield flank failure
TEB rootless shield flank failure

(January 26, 2008, 10:50:12 to 19:12:16) Perched lava ponds often formed atop the rootless shields built by the "Thanksgiving Eve Breakout" (TEB) lava flow. This movie shows the failure of the flank of a rootless shield on January 26, 2008, and the release of the lava contained within the perched lava pond at its summit.

(January 26, 2008, 10:50:12 to 19:12:16) Perched lava ponds often formed atop the rootless shields built by the "Thanksgiving Eve Breakout" (TEB) lava flow. This movie shows the failure of the flank of a rootless shield on January 26, 2008, and the release of the lava contained within the perched lava pond at its summit.

Time-lapse images of Mount St. Helens dome growth 2004-2008
Time-lapse images of Mount St. Helens dome growth 2004-2008
Time-lapse images of Mount St. Helens dome growth 2004-2008

The rapid onset of unrest at Mount St. Helens on September 23, 2004 initiated an uninterrupted lava-dome-building eruption that continued until 2008. The initial phase produced rapid growth of a lava dome as magma pushed upward.

The rapid onset of unrest at Mount St. Helens on September 23, 2004 initiated an uninterrupted lava-dome-building eruption that continued until 2008. The initial phase produced rapid growth of a lava dome as magma pushed upward.

TEB effusion and partial rootless shield flank failure
TEB effusion and partial rootless shield flank failure
TEB effusion and partial rootless shield flank failure

(December 1, 2007, 02:01:38 to 16:01:36) On November 21, 2007—the eve of the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday—Episode 58 changed dramatically. Lava, erupting from Fissure D into a perched lava channel, found an easier path to the surface and broke out from directly over Fissure D on what was, by then, the southern flank of the channel.

(December 1, 2007, 02:01:38 to 16:01:36) On November 21, 2007—the eve of the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday—Episode 58 changed dramatically. Lava, erupting from Fissure D into a perched lava channel, found an easier path to the surface and broke out from directly over Fissure D on what was, by then, the southern flank of the channel.

Episodic spattering in the Episode 58 lava channel
Episodic spattering in the Episode 58 lava channel
Episodic spattering in the Episode 58 lava channel

(November 15, 2007, 09:00:15 to 13:00:15) Periods of overflow and levee construction at the Episode 58 lava channel were interspersed with periods when the lava level was below the channel rim. The lava surface within the lava channel commonly experienced repeated cycles of rise and fall, as shown here.

(November 15, 2007, 09:00:15 to 13:00:15) Periods of overflow and levee construction at the Episode 58 lava channel were interspersed with periods when the lava level was below the channel rim. The lava surface within the lava channel commonly experienced repeated cycles of rise and fall, as shown here.

Dome fountain over Fissure D vent of the Episode 58 eruption
Dome fountain over Fissure D vent of the Episode 58 eruption
Dome fountain over Fissure D vent of the Episode 58 eruption

(September 20, 2007, 05:00:03 to 09:00:03) As the Episode 58 lava channel developed, the upper end of the channel crusted over so that lava—extruding from the erupting fissure—flowed through a short tube before entering the channel.

(September 20, 2007, 05:00:03 to 09:00:03) As the Episode 58 lava channel developed, the upper end of the channel crusted over so that lava—extruding from the erupting fissure—flowed through a short tube before entering the channel.

Long-term evolution of the Episode 58 lava channel
Long-term evolution of the Episode 58 lava channel
Long-term evolution of the Episode 58 lava channel

(September 8 to November 30, 2007) Within days of the onset of Episode 58 on July 21, 2008, activity localized on the easternmost eruptive fissure—Fissure D—and channelized lava began flowing to the northeast. Repeated overflows from the channel added slowly to its height, and the channel became perched up to 45 meters above the pre-existing lava surface.

(September 8 to November 30, 2007) Within days of the onset of Episode 58 on July 21, 2008, activity localized on the easternmost eruptive fissure—Fissure D—and channelized lava began flowing to the northeast. Repeated overflows from the channel added slowly to its height, and the channel became perched up to 45 meters above the pre-existing lava surface.

Aerial of eddy in channel near vent D
Aerial of eddy in channel near vent D
Aerial of eddy in channel near vent D

Aerial of eddy in channel near vent D

Looking down the channel of Fissure D
Looking down the channel of Fissure D
Looking down the channel of Fissure D

Looking down the channel of Fissure D

Collapse and refilling of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater
Collapse and refilling of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater
Collapse and refilling of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater

(June 10 to July 25, 2007) During June 17–19, 2007, an intrusion into Kīlauea's upper east rift zone (Episode 56) led to the cessation of eruptive activity at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō and the collapse of the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater floor (Poland and others, 2008).

(June 10 to July 25, 2007) During June 17–19, 2007, an intrusion into Kīlauea's upper east rift zone (Episode 56) led to the cessation of eruptive activity at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō and the collapse of the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater floor (Poland and others, 2008).

Refilling of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater
Refilling of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater
Refilling of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater

(July 13, 2007, 14:00:30 to 21:00:36) Episode 57 was driven by the eruption of lava from two vents—one on the west-central part of the crater floor and the other on the eastern side of the crater.

(July 13, 2007, 14:00:30 to 21:00:36) Episode 57 was driven by the eruption of lava from two vents—one on the west-central part of the crater floor and the other on the eastern side of the crater.

Refilling of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater
Refilling of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater
Refilling of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater

The refilling of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō during Episode 57 was driven by the eruption of lava from two vents—one on the west-central part of the crater floor (to the right) and the other on the eastern side of the crater (to the left). This movie shows the competing interaction between flows from these two vents for a period of several hours on July 8.

The refilling of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō during Episode 57 was driven by the eruption of lava from two vents—one on the west-central part of the crater floor (to the right) and the other on the eastern side of the crater (to the left). This movie shows the competing interaction between flows from these two vents for a period of several hours on July 8.