Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Kīlauea images of eruptive activity, field work, and more.
In the early evening of Wednesday, January 22, just a few hours into the fifth episode of Kīlauea's summit eruption, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists captured this view of lava fountains at the northern eruptive vent (right) within Halema‘uma‘u crater. The southern eruptive vent (left) was degassing but not actively erupting at the time.
In the early evening of Wednesday, January 22, just a few hours into the fifth episode of Kīlauea's summit eruption, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists captured this view of lava fountains at the northern eruptive vent (right) within Halema‘uma‘u crater. The southern eruptive vent (left) was degassing but not actively erupting at the time.
Aerial view of tephra erupted from December 23, 2024, to present (with several pauses) and deposited within the closed area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Early in the eruption the lava fountains were ejecting bombs and lapilli across the closed portion of Crater Rim Drive. In places this tephra gets to almost a foot (30 cm) thick. USGS photo by D. Downs.
Aerial view of tephra erupted from December 23, 2024, to present (with several pauses) and deposited within the closed area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Early in the eruption the lava fountains were ejecting bombs and lapilli across the closed portion of Crater Rim Drive. In places this tephra gets to almost a foot (30 cm) thick. USGS photo by D. Downs.
USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists conducted a monitoring overflight of the ongoing summit within Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea. This aerial view shows the two erupting vents that are located in the southwest part of the caldera. A portion of Crater Rim Drive that collapsed into the caldera in 2018 is visible in the foreground of the photo.
USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists conducted a monitoring overflight of the ongoing summit within Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea. This aerial view shows the two erupting vents that are located in the southwest part of the caldera. A portion of Crater Rim Drive that collapsed into the caldera in 2018 is visible in the foreground of the photo.
Staff from the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory at the rim of Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera) monitoring and taking measurements of ongoing activity within the summit caldera. USGS photo by K. Mulliken.
Staff from the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory at the rim of Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera) monitoring and taking measurements of ongoing activity within the summit caldera. USGS photo by K. Mulliken.
Over the past day, persistent lava fountaining at Kīlauea summit, coupled with Kona wind conditions, has resulted in Pele's hair falling on nearby communities and within parts of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
Over the past day, persistent lava fountaining at Kīlauea summit, coupled with Kona wind conditions, has resulted in Pele's hair falling on nearby communities and within parts of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists conducted a monitoring overflight of the ongoing summit within Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea. This low-angle aerial view looking westward shows the two erupting vents that are located in the southwest part of the caldera, and along with the Pāhoehoe lava flowing out of the vents. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists conducted a monitoring overflight of the ongoing summit within Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea. This low-angle aerial view looking westward shows the two erupting vents that are located in the southwest part of the caldera, and along with the Pāhoehoe lava flowing out of the vents. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
Close up view of the south vent from the southwest rim of Kaluapele, the summit caldera of Kīlauea, on the morning of January 17, 2025. The cone is almost 100 ft (30 m) high and the lava fountain is just as high to slightly high at times. The outlet at the front of the cone is feeding some of the lava flows in the western part of Halemaʻumaʻu. USGS photo by D.
Close up view of the south vent from the southwest rim of Kaluapele, the summit caldera of Kīlauea, on the morning of January 17, 2025. The cone is almost 100 ft (30 m) high and the lava fountain is just as high to slightly high at times. The outlet at the front of the cone is feeding some of the lava flows in the western part of Halemaʻumaʻu. USGS photo by D.
On Friday, January 17, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) geologists flew an uncrewed aircraft system (UAS, or "drone") into Halema‘uma‘u crater to capture this close-up photo of spattering at the two active vents of the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption.
On Friday, January 17, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) geologists flew an uncrewed aircraft system (UAS, or "drone") into Halema‘uma‘u crater to capture this close-up photo of spattering at the two active vents of the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption.
A view of the nearly vertical eruption plume at Kīlauea summit during the afternoon on January 17, 2025. Photo taken from within the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and showing Crater Rim Drive. USGS photo by P. Nadeau.
A view of the nearly vertical eruption plume at Kīlauea summit during the afternoon on January 17, 2025. Photo taken from within the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and showing Crater Rim Drive. USGS photo by P. Nadeau.
With permission from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists conducted Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) operations at the Kīlauea summit eruption site on January 17, 2025. Scientists conducted flights to assess volcanic gas emissions and take aerial imagery, which will aid in hazard assessment of the ongoing eruption.
With permission from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists conducted Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) operations at the Kīlauea summit eruption site on January 17, 2025. Scientists conducted flights to assess volcanic gas emissions and take aerial imagery, which will aid in hazard assessment of the ongoing eruption.
Early morning view of the ongoing Kīlauea eruption within Halema'uma'u in Kaluapele (the summit caldera) on January 16, 2025. This telephoto view is from the Volcano House overlook within Hawaiʻi Voclanoes National Park. USGS photo by K. Mulliken.
Early morning view of the ongoing Kīlauea eruption within Halema'uma'u in Kaluapele (the summit caldera) on January 16, 2025. This telephoto view is from the Volcano House overlook within Hawaiʻi Voclanoes National Park. USGS photo by K. Mulliken.
Early morning view of visitors gathered at Keanakākoʻi Overlook in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to view the ongoing Kīlauea eruption within Halema'uma'u in Kaluapele (the summit caldera). As of the morning on January 16, 2025, both the north and south vents are erupting lava fountains which are feeding lava flows in the southwest part of the caldera.
Early morning view of visitors gathered at Keanakākoʻi Overlook in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to view the ongoing Kīlauea eruption within Halema'uma'u in Kaluapele (the summit caldera). As of the morning on January 16, 2025, both the north and south vents are erupting lava fountains which are feeding lava flows in the southwest part of the caldera.
This zoom view of the two active lava fountains within Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea was captured by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists during an observational visit to the southern crater rim on the morning of January 16, 2025.
This zoom view of the two active lava fountains within Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea was captured by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists during an observational visit to the southern crater rim on the morning of January 16, 2025.
Telephoto view of the two vents erupting in the southwest part of Kīlauea summit caldera at approximately 6 a.m. HST. This view is to the southwest, from Volcano House within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. USGS photo by K. Mulliken.
Telephoto view of the two vents erupting in the southwest part of Kīlauea summit caldera at approximately 6 a.m. HST. This view is to the southwest, from Volcano House within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. USGS photo by K. Mulliken.
View of the Kīlauea summit eruption in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, from the south rim of the caldera. The caldera wall behind the erupting vents is approximately 210 meters (690 feet) tall.
View of the Kīlauea summit eruption in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, from the south rim of the caldera. The caldera wall behind the erupting vents is approximately 210 meters (690 feet) tall.
A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist collects images for photogrammetric processing at the summit of Kīlauea following episode 40 lava fountaining. These surveys help determine the volume of lava erupted during each episode, and the crater infilling rates. USGS photo by T. Orr.
A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist collects images for photogrammetric processing at the summit of Kīlauea following episode 40 lava fountaining. These surveys help determine the volume of lava erupted during each episode, and the crater infilling rates. USGS photo by T. Orr.
(A) Spatter cone samples from the Kīlauea middle East Rift Zone eruption in and near Nāpau Crater from September 15–20, 2024. Crystals were collected from samples like this. (B) Back-scattered electron image of a plagioclase crystal from the September 2024 Kīlauea middle East Rift Zone eruption. This crystal shows two distinct chemical zones from its core to rim.
(A) Spatter cone samples from the Kīlauea middle East Rift Zone eruption in and near Nāpau Crater from September 15–20, 2024. Crystals were collected from samples like this. (B) Back-scattered electron image of a plagioclase crystal from the September 2024 Kīlauea middle East Rift Zone eruption. This crystal shows two distinct chemical zones from its core to rim.
During the reactivation of the Kīlauea summit eruption, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists setup high resolution cameras to record eruption dynamics. While on field shifts, scientists measure fountain and cone heights, take thermal and observational images, and collect samples for monitoring purposes.
During the reactivation of the Kīlauea summit eruption, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists setup high resolution cameras to record eruption dynamics. While on field shifts, scientists measure fountain and cone heights, take thermal and observational images, and collect samples for monitoring purposes.
Telephoto view of the two vents erupting in the southwest part of Halema'uma'u in Kaluapele (Kīlauea summit caldera) at approximately 6 a.m. HST on January 16, 2025. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists in the field this morning measured the lava fountains as reaching approximately 60 meters (197 feet) high.
Telephoto view of the two vents erupting in the southwest part of Halema'uma'u in Kaluapele (Kīlauea summit caldera) at approximately 6 a.m. HST on January 16, 2025. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists in the field this morning measured the lava fountains as reaching approximately 60 meters (197 feet) high.
USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists observe the continuation of the ongoing Kīlauea eruption during its fourth eruptive episode. The eruption had been paused since January 3, 2025, and resumed on January 15, 2025.
USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists observe the continuation of the ongoing Kīlauea eruption during its fourth eruptive episode. The eruption had been paused since January 3, 2025, and resumed on January 15, 2025.
Panorama view of the Kīlauea summit eruption from Keanakākoʻi Overlook in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The Keanakākoʻi Overlook is on the south side of Kaluapele (Kīlauea summit caldera) and the view is the northwest. On the left, the two erupting vents are visible within Halemaʻumaʻu in the southwest part of Kaluapele.
Panorama view of the Kīlauea summit eruption from Keanakākoʻi Overlook in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The Keanakākoʻi Overlook is on the south side of Kaluapele (Kīlauea summit caldera) and the view is the northwest. On the left, the two erupting vents are visible within Halemaʻumaʻu in the southwest part of Kaluapele.