Images

A helicopter overflight on May 3, 2023, allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected of Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. No active lava was present in the crater, with only scattered warm spots on the crater floor.

Two USGS scientists are seen here installing a seismic node. This node is one of over 1,800 that are currently being deployed for a survey designed to image structures beneath Kīlauea's summit. After the seismic nodes, which will blend into the natural landscape, are deployed, a large vehicle will slowly traverse roads near Kīlauea’s summit in May.

This week, USGS Volcano Science Center scientists from other locations are helping the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory to deploy the 1,800 seismic nodes (small earthquake-detecting devices) across Kīlauea summit region.

This view of Halema‘uma‘u was captured from partway up the northwestern wall of the crater by an HVO geologist visiting the area on Wednesday, May 3, to collect geologic samples. The basin of the lava lake from the end of the most recent eruption is defined by the steaming area in the upper center of the frame. USGS image by M. Zoeller.  

HVO scientists conducted a routine Kīlauea summit monitoring overflight during the morning of May 3, 2023. During the overflight, the helicopter flies around Halema‘uma‘u several times, and scientists take both regular pictures and infrared images that tell us about the temperatures on the crater floor. These images are used to create maps of the crater.

During a morning overflight on May 3, 2023, HVO scientists did not observe any activity within Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. The most recent eruptive activity was observed on March 7.

A USGS scientist hikes across lava flows in the Hilina Pali area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project is operating under a research permit from Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and prior to deploying the nodes, USGS scientists were trained on endangered plants and archaeological features within the park.

Eruptions within Halema‘uma‘u over the past several years have filled the deepest part of Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera) that collapsed in 2018, which was Halema‘uma‘u crater. However, only about 21 percent of the volume of the 2018 collapse has been filled by these eruptions—about one fifth of the volume of the 2018 collapse.

Kīlauea Iki and Pu‘upua‘i are visible in this aerial image taken during the May 3, 2023, Kīlauea summit monitoring overflight. Pu‘upua‘i is the cinder cone, which was built up by spectacular lava fountaining during the 1959 eruption in Kīlauea Iki crater.

On Wednesday May 3, HVO geologists visited the northwestern wall of Halema‘uma‘u crater to sample older ash beds and lava flows exposed by the caldera collapse in 2018. Here, one of the geologists is collecting ash samples while standing on a large pile of rockfall debris that mantles the crater wall. USGS image by M. Zoeller. 

On May 3, HVO scientists and collaborators deployed some seismic nodes for the Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project in the Hilina Pali area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Many of the nodes being deployed have spikes on the bottom to secure them into the ground to avoid wind movement, which cause noise in the data they collect.

A helicopter overflight on May 3, 2023, allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected of Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. No active lava was present in the crater, with only scattered warm spots on the crater floor.

A pallet of buckets containing equipment for the Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project is placed on netting so that it can be moved via helicopter sling load. These pallets package a small portion of the 1,800 seismic nodes (small earthquake-detecting devices) that are being deployed in Kīlauea summit region as part of the project.

The gear for the Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project is staged and ready to be moved on Crater Rim Drive in the closed area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Portions of Crater Rim Drive collapsed into Kīlauea caldera in 2018 and this project is partially funded by the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 (H.R.

An HVO scientist prepares netting to move a pallet of equipment via helicopter for the Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project on April 28, 2023. During the project, caches of equipment are deployed around Kīlauea summit. HVO scientists and collaborators then distribute the equipment from the cache into a network across the summit region. USGS image by M. Patrick.

A USGS scientist checks the location to deploy a seismic node within Hiʻiaka Crater, in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, as part of the Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project. The station is one of 1,800 that will collect data for the next two months.

A USGS scientist hikes into Pauahi Crater, in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, to deploy seismic nodes for the Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project. The floor of Pauahi Crater is covered by lava that flowed into the crater during a Kīlauea East Rift Zone eruption in November 1979. USGS image by M. Patrick.

A USGS scientist installs a seismic node within Pauahi Crater, in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, as part of the Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project. The station is one of 1,800 that will collect data for the next two months.

A USGS scientist checks the location of the seismic node being installed within Pauahi Crater, in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, as part of the Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has a permanent monitoring network of several seismometers at the summit of Kīlauea that detect natural earthquakes, but more sei

Scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory deployed caches of seismic node instruments via helicopter around Kīlauea summit yesterday, April 17. Seismic nodes are small earthquake-detecting devices and 1,800 of them are being placed across Kīlauea summit for the next two months as part of the Kīlauea Seismic Imaging Project.

A Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist deploys one of 1,800 temporary seismic node stations that will be collecting data for the next two months in Kīlauea summit region.