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.
States L2 Landing Page Tabs
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.
Timelapse showing typical activity at Kīlauea's summit water lake
This timelapse video at Kīlauea's summit covers approximately 30 minutes and shows the dynamic nature of the water lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater. Steam from the hot water surface is constantly shifting in the winds, while the migrating color boundaries on the water surface appear to show circulation in the lake. USGS video by M. Patrick.
Thermal video of Kīlauea's summit water lake on June 23, 2020
This thermal video shows typical activity at Kīlauea's summit water lake. Steam carried across the water surface often masks thermal features on the underlying water surface. USGS video by M. Patrick.
Use of UASs (“Drones”) in 2018 at Kīlauea and Beyond
This video describes USGS use of Unoccupied Aircraft Systems (UAS) or "drones" for use in 2018 at Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii. The speaker, Angie Diefenbach, is a leading expert in use of UAS for volcano surveillance and research. The presentation was given in June 2020 to colleagues in Ecuador who are interested in applications of UAS at their volcanoes. Angie is a member
Virtual flyover of Kīlauea summit
A helicopter overflight provided aerial photographs of Kīlauea caldera on May 29, and these photos were used to construct a 3D model. The water lake is visible as the tan area in the deepest portion of Halema‘uma‘u crater. For scale, the water lake is 270 m (885 ft) long and approximately 600 m (1970 ft) below the western caldera rim. USGS photos by K. Mulliken.
Video of Kīlauea summit from May 29 overflight
This wide-angle video was captured during a helicopter overflight on May 29, and skirts the southern border of Halema‘uma‘u crater. The water lake, filling the bottom of the crater, was tan and brown today, and showed no significant changes. USGS video by M. Patrick.
Comparing Kīlauea's summit before and after the 2018 collapse
This series of maps compares aerial imagery collected prior to Kīlauea's 2018 summit collapse and the "Geologic Map of the Summit Region of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaii" (Dutton and others, 2007; Neal and others, 2003)—created before Kīlauea's 2018 summit collapse—with aerial imagery collected after the 2018 summit collapse and a preliminary update to Kīlauea's summit geologic
...
Halema‘uma‘u rockslide on May 11, 2020
A small rockslide occurred today on the south wall of Halema‘uma‘u, sending boulders into the water at the bottom of the crater. USGS video by M. Patrick.
HVO technician inspects power/communication station at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō
HVO technician inspects power/communication station at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō on on April 16, 2020. USGS photos by F. Younger.
A geologists makes observations at Kilauea
Clear weather allowed HVO geologists to make observations and take measurements of the water pond at Kīlauea's summit. No major changes were observed, and the water level continues to slowly rise. Note the former HVO observation tower can be seen above the geologist's helmet.
Timelapse of water rising in Halema‘uma‘u
This timelapse sequence shows the water pond in Halema‘uma‘u Crater, at Kīlauea's summit, between November 1, 2019, and March 26, 2020. Over this time the water level rose approximately 14 meters (46 feet), equivalent to 67 cm (about 2 feet) per week. The timelapse shows one image per day (with a few cloudy images removed), and is looped several times.
Snow at Mauna Loa summit
Stormy weather moved through the islands over the past day, producing snow at the higher elevations of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. This sequence shows the webcam images at the summit of Mauna Loa, and the variable weather throughout the day.
Hawai'i 'Amakihi (Chlorodrepanis virens).
Hawai'i 'Amakihi (Chlorodrepanis virens).
Large overflow onto Halema‘uma‘u crater floor
Continued overflows from the summit lava lake throughout Wednesday
Kīlauea summit lava lake overflows onto Halema‘uma‘u crater floor
Small overflows from Kīlauea's summit lava lake overnight
High summit lava lake close to the rim
In recent years, scientists have made significant improvements in developing sophisticated models of how volcanoes work. The ultimate goal is to develop models that allow us to forecast new activity.
A virtual flyover of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō
Ongoing changes at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, with continued breakouts near the vent
Summit deflation leads to slight drop in lake level
Three deposits from explosive eruptions at the summit of Mauna Loa are located west, northwest, and east of Moku‘āweoweo, the volcano's summit caldera. In map view, these deposits are fan-shaped. Along the ‘Āinapō Trail, 2.8 to 3.5 km (1.7 to 2.2 mi) southeast of the caldera, several kīpuka expose a fourth distinct explosive deposit.
A new USGS Scientific Investigation Report describes 2016 lava lake activity, including lake surface textures and appearance, surface motion, explosions, outgassing and most aspects of the spattering behavior.
Already reeling from a destructive earthquake and deadly tsunami and mud flow on April 2, 1868, Ka‘ū residents on the Island of Hawai‘i hoped for a reprieve, but it was slow to come.
Social Media
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