Unified Interior Regions
Hawaii
The Pacific Region has nine USGS Science Centers in California, Nevada, and Hawaii. The Regional Office, headquartered in Sacramento, provides Center oversight and support, facilitates internal and external collaborations, and works to further USGS strategic science directions.
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Time-Lapse at Pu`u `Ō`ō Spatter Cone
This Quicktime movie shows a time-lapse sequence of activity at the northeast spatter cone in Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater on February 9-10. Rapid fluctuations in the height of the lava pond are caused by gas pistoning, which is the gradual buildup and release of gas in the pond. Mauna Kea is visible in the upper right portion of the frame. The sequence was captured by an inexpensive
Satellite image shows Kīlauea's activity from summit to ERZ
This image was acquired by the Earth Observing 1 satellite's Advanced Land Imager sensor on February 2, and shows Kīlauea's summit and east rift zone. Although this is a false-color image, the color map has been chosen to mimic what the human eye would expect to see. Active lava is shown by the bright red pixels, present at the summit - in the lava lake at Halema‘uma‘u
...Time-lapse sequence of Halema‘uma‘u degassing plume
This Quicktime movie is a time-lapse sequence from a camera in the HVO observation tower, and shows one week of activity at Kīlauea's summit vent in Halema‘uma‘u Crater. The sequence starts on February 3 at 12:01 am and ends on February 9 at 11:59 pm. The continuously active lava lake produces a degassing plume that is normally carried by the tradewinds to the southwest (
Summit Lava Lake Activity
This Quicktime movie shows typical activity at the summit lava lake. Spattering at the summit lava lake has been common over the past several years, and today's winds provided a clear view of the primary spatter area on the lake margin. The lava lake today was about 50 m (160 ft) below the floor of Halema‘uma‘u Crater. The spattering is driven by bursting gas bubbles, with
Preview image: Winter storm deposits snow on Mauna Loa's summit
Preview image for video: This Quicktime video shows a time-lapse sequence spanning from dawn to dusk on Tuesday, January 28, using images collected by our webcam near the summit of Mauna Loa Volcano (13,680 ft above sea level). The dawn is sunny with clear views across the summit caldera (Moku‘āweoweo), but this clear weather soon deteriorates into thick clouds and steady
...Preview image: Winter storm deposits snow on Mauna Loa's summit
Preview image for video: This Quicktime video shows a time-lapse sequence spanning from dawn to dusk on Tuesday, January 28, using images collected by our webcam near the summit of Mauna Loa Volcano (13,680 ft above sea level). The dawn is sunny with clear views across the summit caldera (Moku‘āweoweo), but this clear weather soon deteriorates into thick clouds and steady
...Winter storm deposits snow on Mauna Loa's summit
This Quicktime video shows a time-lapse sequence spanning from dawn to dusk on Tuesday, January 28, using images collected by our webcam near the summit of Mauna Loa Volcano (13,680 ft above sea level). The dawn is sunny with clear views across the summit caldera (Moku‘āweoweo), but this clear weather soon deteriorates into thick clouds and steady snowfall as a winter
Pu`u 'Ō`ō Lava Pond
This Quicktime movie shows a lava pond, about 15 m (50 ft) in diameter, on the east rim of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. Several small spatter sources are active on the pond margin, and release gas from within the pond. Lava pond activity like this is common in Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō.
Gas Piston in Lava Pond
This Quicktime movie shows weak gas pistoning in the lava pond on the east rim of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. Gas pistoning is the cyclic buildup and release of gas within the pond, and is common in Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō.
Gas Pistoning and Spattering
This Quicktime movie shows some of the spattering associated with the gas pistoning, in which the spattering acts as an outlet for gas accumulating in the pond. Note how the crust in the center of the pond is fluctuating. Lava pond activity and gas pistoning are common in Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō.
Lava lake spattering at Halema‘uma‘u Crater
The lava lake in the Overlook crater, within Halema‘uma‘u Crater at Kīlauea's summit, undergoes frequent periods of spattering. The spattering is normally at the lake margins, and the surface crust often flows towards, and is consumed at, the spattering source. Large bubbles bursting at the surface drive the spattering activity, as shown occasionally by large spherical
Lava Lake Spattering at Halema'uma'u Crater
21 January 2014 Lava Lake Spattering at Halema'uma'u Crater The lava lake in the Overlook crater, within Halema'uma'u Crater at Kilauea's summit, undergoes frequent periods of spattering. The spattering is normally at the lake margins, and the surface crust often flows towards, and is consumed at, the spattering source. Large bubbles bursting at the surface drive the

March 25 marks the 20th anniversary of the most recent eruption of Mauna Loa. The eruption was preceded by roughly three years of increasing numbers of shallow- and intermediate-depth earthquakes. A marked increase in earthquake activity occurred nearly six months before the eruption.

Bright glow above flow field as seen from end of Chain of Craters Road

Distant lava flow viewed from Pu`u Huluhulu

Pu`u `O`o and pahoehoe

When we think of the negative impact that volcanoes have on people, the local geographic area of the eruption generally comes to mind. Ash, lava, and mudflows are all destructive and hazardous for people who live close to volcanoes.

The worst volcanic disaster of the 20th century occurred in 1902 on Martinique, an island in the French West Indies.

In and out of Pu`u `O`o

About 2.5 km (1.5 miles) down the Hilina Pali Road in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park are two tiny kipuka that help geologists decipher obscure parts of Kīlauea's past 1,500 years.

Dave's pit vent active inside Pu`u `O`o

Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater lava flow.

Murky day near Pu`u `O`o

People frequently ask, "What's with all these eruptions I hear about? Is volcanic activity increasing?" Indeed, a plot of reported eruptions over the last 200 years shows ever-increasing numbers, but it is very likely that this is due to increased interest and ease of worldwide communication rather than increased volcanic activity.