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Kīlauea images of eruptive activity, field work, and more.
The eastern (right) lava delta is the larger of the two, with a broad span of small lava flows entering the sea creating a wide ocean entry plume. Fewer flows on the smaller western (left) entry created a weaker plume.
The eastern (right) lava delta is the larger of the two, with a broad span of small lava flows entering the sea creating a wide ocean entry plume. Fewer flows on the smaller western (left) entry created a weaker plume.
View of Kīlauea's summit lava lake from the north rim of Halema‘uma‘u.
View of Kīlauea's summit lava lake from the north rim of Halema‘uma‘u.
A video clip showing spattering in Kīlauea's summit lava lake.
A video clip showing spattering in Kīlauea's summit lava lake.
On Wednesday evening (September 7), the lava lake at Kīlauea's summit reached a high level, about 8 m (26 feet) below the floor of Halema‘uma‘u Crater. This panorama shows the former Halema‘uma‘u Overlook (closed since 2008 due to volcanic hazards) at the far left.
On Wednesday evening (September 7), the lava lake at Kīlauea's summit reached a high level, about 8 m (26 feet) below the floor of Halema‘uma‘u Crater. This panorama shows the former Halema‘uma‘u Overlook (closed since 2008 due to volcanic hazards) at the far left.
A closer look at Kīlauea's summit lava lake on Wednesday evening, around 6:30 p.m., when the lake was just 8 meters (26 feet) below the floor of Halema‘uma‘u Crater.
A closer look at Kīlauea's summit lava lake on Wednesday evening, around 6:30 p.m., when the lake was just 8 meters (26 feet) below the floor of Halema‘uma‘u Crater.
Kīlauea Volcano's lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u Crater rose steadily over the past day in concert with summit inflation. This morning, with the lake level at just 19 m (62 ft) below the summit vent rim, vigorous spattering on the lake surface was visible from the Jaggar Museum Overlook in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
Kīlauea Volcano's lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u Crater rose steadily over the past day in concert with summit inflation. This morning, with the lake level at just 19 m (62 ft) below the summit vent rim, vigorous spattering on the lake surface was visible from the Jaggar Museum Overlook in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
Calm after the storm—a beautiful day on Kīlauea Volcano's East Rift Zone. Rain from Hurricane Madeline had little impact on Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, shown here, or lava flow 61g.
Calm after the storm—a beautiful day on Kīlauea Volcano's East Rift Zone. Rain from Hurricane Madeline had little impact on Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, shown here, or lava flow 61g.
"The whole Eastern Half of the lake is in a state of continuous activity with Old Faithful playing 10 to 20 feet every 35 to 45 seconds." J.M. Lydgate wrote these words and sketched this map of Halema‘uma‘u Crater in the Volcano House Register (a collection of hotel guest comments) in July 1909 to document his observations of Kīlauea Volcano.
"The whole Eastern Half of the lake is in a state of continuous activity with Old Faithful playing 10 to 20 feet every 35 to 45 seconds." J.M. Lydgate wrote these words and sketched this map of Halema‘uma‘u Crater in the Volcano House Register (a collection of hotel guest comments) in July 1909 to document his observations of Kīlauea Volcano.
Kīlauea Volcano's active lava flow continues to bury more of the emergency access route (Chain of Craters Road) in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Early this morning, slow-moving breakouts were oozing across the road on the west side of the flow.
Kīlauea Volcano's active lava flow continues to bury more of the emergency access route (Chain of Craters Road) in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Early this morning, slow-moving breakouts were oozing across the road on the west side of the flow.
Kīlauea Volcano's older "61g" lava flows have now inflated (left side of photo), creating jagged terrain that rises as much as 3 m (10 ft) above the road. Today, new lava (right) was covering additional areas of the gravel road.
Kīlauea Volcano's older "61g" lava flows have now inflated (left side of photo), creating jagged terrain that rises as much as 3 m (10 ft) above the road. Today, new lava (right) was covering additional areas of the gravel road.
At the summit of Kīlauea, the weather cleared, but inflation turned to deflation and the lava lake level dropped, so the spattering that had been visible from overlooks in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park the past two days is no longer visible today. But, it was a beautiful day to view Halema‘uma‘u Crater from the Jaggar Museum Overlook!
At the summit of Kīlauea, the weather cleared, but inflation turned to deflation and the lava lake level dropped, so the spattering that had been visible from overlooks in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park the past two days is no longer visible today. But, it was a beautiful day to view Halema‘uma‘u Crater from the Jaggar Museum Overlook!
This hand-tinted telephoto image of Kīlauea Volcano's "Old Faithful" lava fountain in Halema‘uma‘u Crater was taken by volcanologist Frank A. Perret on July 23, 1911. USGS-Hawaiian Volcano Observatory photo archives.
This hand-tinted telephoto image of Kīlauea Volcano's "Old Faithful" lava fountain in Halema‘uma‘u Crater was taken by volcanologist Frank A. Perret on July 23, 1911. USGS-Hawaiian Volcano Observatory photo archives.
In concert with inflationary tilt, the level of Kīlauea Volcano's summit lava lake rose over the past day and was measured at 28 m (92 ft) below the vent rim this morning.
In concert with inflationary tilt, the level of Kīlauea Volcano's summit lava lake rose over the past day and was measured at 28 m (92 ft) below the vent rim this morning.
On August 6, a rockfall from the steep walls of Overlook crater, which contains Kīlauea Volcano's summit lava lake, triggered an explosive event that deposited spatter (molten lava) and solid rock fragments on the rim of Halema‘uma‘u Crater. That event was just the latest in a series of explosions that began in 2008.
On August 6, a rockfall from the steep walls of Overlook crater, which contains Kīlauea Volcano's summit lava lake, triggered an explosive event that deposited spatter (molten lava) and solid rock fragments on the rim of Halema‘uma‘u Crater. That event was just the latest in a series of explosions that began in 2008.
This aerial video footage, filmed by USGS in late July 2016, features Kīlauea Volcano's summit vent within Halema‘uma‘u Crater.
This aerial video footage, filmed by USGS in late July 2016, features Kīlauea Volcano's summit vent within Halema‘uma‘u Crater.
The beauty of Kīlauea Volcano's eastern Kamokuna ocean entry can be enjoyed from a safe distance upwind of where lava flows into the sea. The eastern entry site (shown here) has created a lava delta that is now about 5 acres in size; as this delta grows larger, so does the risk of a sudden collapse.
The beauty of Kīlauea Volcano's eastern Kamokuna ocean entry can be enjoyed from a safe distance upwind of where lava flows into the sea. The eastern entry site (shown here) has created a lava delta that is now about 5 acres in size; as this delta grows larger, so does the risk of a sudden collapse.
Rocks from the east rim of Kīlauea Volcano's summit vent fell into the lava lake at 10:02 p.m., HST, on Saturday, August 6, triggering an explosive event that hurled fragments of molten and solid rock onto the rim of Halema‘uma‘u Crater.
Rocks from the east rim of Kīlauea Volcano's summit vent fell into the lava lake at 10:02 p.m., HST, on Saturday, August 6, triggering an explosive event that hurled fragments of molten and solid rock onto the rim of Halema‘uma‘u Crater.
A plume of volcanic gas and ash rises from a vent on the east side of Halema`uma`u Crater, at the summit of Kīlauea caldera. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Jaggar Museum of Volcanology are in the foreground.
A plume of volcanic gas and ash rises from a vent on the east side of Halema`uma`u Crater, at the summit of Kīlauea caldera. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Jaggar Museum of Volcanology are in the foreground.
On Friday afternoon, three areas of spattering on the summit lava lake surface produced abundant volcanic gas emissions, one of the main hazards near the Halema‘uma‘u Crater vent. Earlier this morning, spattering lava was visible from a safe distance at Jaggar Museum Overlook in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
On Friday afternoon, three areas of spattering on the summit lava lake surface produced abundant volcanic gas emissions, one of the main hazards near the Halema‘uma‘u Crater vent. Earlier this morning, spattering lava was visible from a safe distance at Jaggar Museum Overlook in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
Aerial photograph of active lava lake in Hale maʻumaʻu Crater at the summit of Kīlauea volcano.
Aerial photograph of active lava lake in Hale maʻumaʻu Crater at the summit of Kīlauea volcano.
Perched on the rim of Kīlauea Volcano's summit caldera, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and NPS Jaggar Museum (foreground) overlook the active lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u Crater. The black lava flows to the left and right of the fuming vent spilled onto the crater floor in April-May 2015, when the lava lake briefly filled to overflowing.
Perched on the rim of Kīlauea Volcano's summit caldera, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and NPS Jaggar Museum (foreground) overlook the active lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u Crater. The black lava flows to the left and right of the fuming vent spilled onto the crater floor in April-May 2015, when the lava lake briefly filled to overflowing.