Images

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists captured this telephoto view of the spattering surface on the southern side of the crater during an eruption monitoring shift on June 12. USGS photo by J. Schmith.

On June 12, 2023, HVO scientists conducted an overflight of the eruption within Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea volcano. This aerial photo shows the darker parts of the crater floor, most which have been covered with new lava since the eruption began on June 7.

The island, which was created in the very first hours of the 2020 Halema‘uma‘u lava lake eruption, is still visible. Fresh lava from the opening of the 2023 eruption has risen high around the edges and covered part of the surface. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists wonder how much longer this feature will survive. USGS photo by J. Schmith.

This compilation shows thermal maps of the initial days of the ongoing eruption in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea. The high initial eruption rates in the opening day of the eruption supplied numerous lava fountains that covered the entire crater floor with new lava.

In this telephoto view of the eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater, lava flows from right to left from an outlet in lower right side of photo. As lava flows, the outlet slowly grows a soft crust of dark lava fingers. USGS photo by J. Schmith on June 12, 2023.

From the southwest part of Halema‘uma‘u crater rim, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists were able to view into vent perched on the western wall. On June 12, they observed that lava was still spattering inside the vent, but rarely making it out of the top. USGS photo by J. Schmith.

A close-up of the glowing vent on Halema‘uma‘u lava lake surface shows that it is built from clots of spatter that have welded together. USGS photo by J. Schmith.

A helicopter overflight on June 12, 2023, allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected of Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. The eruptive activity has consisted of lava fountaining and lava lake activity, confined within the crater. The area of active lava has diminished in recent days.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists use an FTIR to measure volcanic gas at the Halemaʻumaʻu crater eruption site. The FTIR is aimed at the hot, glowing lava and the volcanic gas between the lava and the FTIR can be measured.

On the afternoon of June 9, 2023, the fissure on the southwest wall of Halema‘uma‘u crater was still active and had formed a spatter cone. The vent was feeding lava flows down into the still active Halema‘uma‘u lava lake below. USGS photo by K. Lynn.

View from the west rim of Halema‘uma‘u crater, showing the new lava flows that have covered the crater floor since the morning of June 7, 2023. This photograph, taken the morning of June 8, 2023, shows several active fissure vents that are feeding lava flows that cover the floor of the crater.

Low fountaining has been active where lava upwells into Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea. This video shows a series of small fountains in the southern portion of the crater floor. Camera shake is due to high winds at the time.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's B1cam was located on the east rim of the downdropped block within Kīlauea’s summit caldera, overlooking Halema‘uma‘u crater to the west. The eruption that began within Halema‘uma‘u crater the early morning of June 7, 2023, flooded the crater floor with lava and the B1cam was exposed to intense heat.

A telephoto view looking down on the fissure vent in the talus pile in the southwest corner of Halema‘uma‘u crater, taken from the western crater rim. Over the past 24 hours, this fissure vent has built up a spatter cone and spatter ramparts around its lava flow that cascades down to the crater floor.

A summit eruption of Kīlauea volcano, within Halemaʻumaʻu crater, began at approximately 4:44 a.m. on June 7, 2023. Lava is flowing on the crater floor and there are several active vent sources. The eruption at Kīlauea’s summit is occurring within a closed area of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park and high levels of volcanic gas are the primary hazard of concern.

Aerial view shows multiple active vent sources and lava flooding the crater floor. 

A view across the Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor, at one of the new vents that began erupting on June 7, 2023. Fountain heights have decreased since the eruption onset and, as of approximately 3 p.m., were about 4-9 meters (13-30 feet) high. The new eruption is confined to Kīlauea summit region, within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

A helicopter overflight on June 7, 2023, allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected of Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. The overflight happened about two hours after the start of the new eruption at the summit, and eruptive activity consisted of lava fountaining and lava lake activity.

A telephoto view of the locus of four lava fountains in the southern part of Halema‘uma‘u's active lava lake during the mid-afternoon of June 7, 2023. These fountains were approximately 4-9 meters (13-30 feet) high throughout the afternoon, with occasional bursts that were higher. USGS photo by K. Lynn.

Scientists observed wind vortexes during the first day of the new eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu crater, which began before sunrise on June 7, 2023. These vortexes form due to extreme head. The rapidly swirling air can entrain hot lava, flinging pieces of crust. Scientists maintained a safe distance on the rim of the crater and used a telephoto lens to take this photo.

A timelapse camera captures the new eruption in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea. The initial intensity of the eruption covered the crater floor with lava, fed by numerous fountains. As the eruption stabilized and the vigor declined, the area of active lava on the surface was reduced.