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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Episode 56 Map (with Seismicity)
Map shows activity from Episode 56.
Map of flows from Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō: September 12, 2003
Map shows lava flows erupted during 1983-present activity of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō and Kupaianaha. Red colors, both dark and light, denote Mother's Day flow, which began erupting on May 12, 2002 and continues to the present. The darkest color represents flows active since January 21, 2003.
Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō cone and surroundings as of July 2000
Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō cone and surroundings as of July 2000, showing the area covered (mauve color) by lava since February 1997 during episode 55. Inside the crater of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, the "trough" is the drained lava pond of September–October 1999. The central portion of the trough was briefly filled with lava in February 2000.
Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō cone and surroundings as of March 2000
Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō cone and surroundings as of March 2000 showing the area covered (dark gray) by lava since February 1997 during episode 55. Inside the crater of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, the "trough" is the drained lava pond of September–October 1999.
Kīlauea 2018 lower East Rift Zone lava flow thicknesses
Data depicted on this map of Kīlauea lower East Rift Zone lava flow thicknesses are derived from a 2019 USGS topographic survey that utilized a helicopter-mounted light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensor. The post-eruption elevations measured by this survey were compared to elevations in pre-eruption surveys—which depicted both the land surface and ocean floor—to
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Halema‘uma‘u taken during a helicopter lidar survey on July 25, 2019
Telephoto views of water in the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u taken during a helicopter lidar survey on July 25, 2019 (left), when the pond was first observed, and a USGS overflight on August 1, 2019 (right). The pond grew slightly in size and depth between the two dates; an "X" marks the same rock in both photos for comparison. Left photo courtesy of Ron Chapelle, Quantum
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residual heat, steam, and small amounts of other gases continue to esc
Although Kīlauea Volcano's 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption is over, residual heat, steam, and small amounts of other gases continue to escape from ground cracks and vents in the lower Puna area near Highway 130 as molten rock underground cools.
Routine overflight of Mauna Loa summit
This video shows Moku‘āweoweo, the caldera at the summit of Mauna Loa, during a routine overflight. The flight path goes from northeast to southwest, and begins at North Pit crater before crossing over the main caldera floor. In the southwest portion of the caldera floor, the 1940 and 1949 cones can be seen. The video ends as the helicopter flies over South Pit, at the
Interferogram for the period from April 6 to June 2, 2019
COSMO-SkyMed (CSK) Interferogram for the period from April 6 to June 2, 2019, covering Kīlauea Volcano’s summit region. Each color fringe represents 1.65 centimeters (0.65 inches) of ground displacement. The closely spaced color bands, or fringes, within the caldera indicate localized inflation, while the broader fringes on the northwest side of the caldera indicate a
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Kīlauea that will be covered by a helicopter lidar survey in June 2019
Areas on Kīlauea that will be covered by a helicopter lidar survey in June 2019. Red lines enclose areas over which the survey helicopter will fly at 396 m (1,300 ft) above ground level. Green lines enclose areas over which the helicopter will fly at 151 m (500 ft) above ground level.
bright yellow Hughes 500 helicopter
During the lidar survey, equipment will be mounted on a bright yellow Hughes 500 helicopter like the one shown here. The helicopter will fly in a northeast or southwest direction over the survey areas depicted on the map.
field crews of Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Kīlauea Volcano’s 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption was monitored around the clock by field crews of Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and other USGS scientists for three months, starting with the first fissure that erupted in Leilani Estates on May 3, 2018. Clockwise from upper left, USGS-HVO scientists walked along Leilani Avenue on May 6 to examine spatter erupted from
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Timelapse sequence shows a typical day at Mauna Loa's summit
This timelapse sequence of webcam images over a 24-hour period shows a typical day at the summit of Mauna Loa. The webcam (MLcam) is located on the northeast rim of Moku‘āweoweo, Mauna Loa's summit caldera. This sequence begins in the dark, with the moon rising (white dot at left in images), then brightens as the sun rises. Clear skies in the morning shift to cloudy
Mauna Loa caldera
HVO staff visited the summit of Mauna Loa on foot to repair the webcam on April 24. The weather was perfectly clear and views of the caldera floor showed nothing unusual.
HVO geologist walks along the Mauna Loa summit trail
An HVO geologist walks along the Mauna Loa summit trail, with Mauna Kea visible in the distant background.
'I'iwi (Drepanis coccinea), or scarlet honeycreeper.
'I'iwi (Drepanis coccinea), or scarlet honeycreeper.
"During the current lapse in appropriations U.S. volcano observatories including the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory will continue to monitor volcanic activity and issue updates, warnings, and notifications through the usual channels, including this website, email, and news releases."
With recent attention focused on the need to be prepared for all hazards, this week's Volcano Watch offers ways to stay informed about Hawaiian volcanoes and earthquakes.
With the Wolf Moon illuminating Kīlauea Caldera from above and the Halema‘uma‘u lava lake glowing below, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) looks forward to another year of investigating the island's magnificent, active volcanoes. Not surprisingly, 2018 will see additions and improvements to our monitoring and research toolkit.
On January 3, 2018, Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō on Kīlauea Volcano's East Rift Zone reaches its 35th birthday.
Lava erupting from the active vent on the east flank of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō has not entered the ocean or reached the Kamokuna lava delta during the past month. Instead, small lava flows are scattered across the 61g flow field, breaking out from the lava-tube network between Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō and the coastal plain.
Recent collapses into Kīlauea's summit lava lake
Where do we stand today with big-picture knowledge of Kīlauea and Mauna Loa acquired in the past few decades?
Clear views at Kīlauea's summit and East Rift Zone eruptions
January 2018 is Hawai‘i Island's 9th annual Volcano Awareness Month.
61g breakouts on coastal plain
A new HVO webcam provides improved views of Mauna Loa's summit caldera, Moku‘āweoweo, from the northwest rim.
A widely-held belief is that Thomas Jaggar, founder of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, was able to stop a Mauna Loa lava flow in 1935. But is it true?
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Locations
Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center
Phone: (808) 985-6420
Fax: (808) 967-8568
Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center
Pacific Islands Water Science Center
Phone: 808-690-9600
Fax: 808-690-9599
O'ahu Field Station
Phone: 808-690-9571
Fax: 808-690-9599
National Wildlife Health Center, Honolulu Field Station
Phone: (808) 792-9520
Fax: (808) 792-9596