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Kīlauea images of eruptive activity, field work, and more.
During Kīlauea summit eruption episode 31 on August 22, inclined lava fountains extended 300 meters (1000 feet) laterally from the north vent, going eastward towards the center of Halemaʻumaʻu crater.
During Kīlauea summit eruption episode 31 on August 22, inclined lava fountains extended 300 meters (1000 feet) laterally from the north vent, going eastward towards the center of Halemaʻumaʻu crater.
Episode 31 fountains began at 2:04 p.m. HST, after spattering was visible overnight along with several sluggish lava flows from the north vent. After episode 31 started, lava fountains steadily grew in size to over 325 feet (100 m). The fountains exited the north vent at a 45-degree angle and would be over 500 feet high if they were straight up.
Episode 31 fountains began at 2:04 p.m. HST, after spattering was visible overnight along with several sluggish lava flows from the north vent. After episode 31 started, lava fountains steadily grew in size to over 325 feet (100 m). The fountains exited the north vent at a 45-degree angle and would be over 500 feet high if they were straight up.
31 episodes of lava fountaining at the summit of Kīlauea since December 23, 2024, have covered the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu with a patchwork of lava flows of varying ages. With each episode, more of the crater floor is covered and in total, the lava flows have filled over 260 feet (80 meters) of the crater with new lava. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
31 episodes of lava fountaining at the summit of Kīlauea since December 23, 2024, have covered the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu with a patchwork of lava flows of varying ages. With each episode, more of the crater floor is covered and in total, the lava flows have filled over 260 feet (80 meters) of the crater with new lava. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation (CSG) interferogram for the period from August 2 to August 10, 2025, covering Kīlauea volcano’s summit region.
COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation (CSG) interferogram for the period from August 2 to August 10, 2025, covering Kīlauea volcano’s summit region.
This close-up view of the Kīlauea summit eruption's north vent was captured during an uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) overflight conducted by Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists on August 18. Looking down to the southwest, the Halema‘uma‘u crater wall is out of view to the top of the frame.
This close-up view of the Kīlauea summit eruption's north vent was captured during an uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) overflight conducted by Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists on August 18. Looking down to the southwest, the Halema‘uma‘u crater wall is out of view to the top of the frame.
Sand and large, wave-rounded boulders frame the edge of the 2018 Kīlauea lava delta near Isaac Hale Beach Park. Wave action has eroded these boulders from the 2018 lava flow and deposited them on the beach. USGS photo.
Sand and large, wave-rounded boulders frame the edge of the 2018 Kīlauea lava delta near Isaac Hale Beach Park. Wave action has eroded these boulders from the 2018 lava flow and deposited them on the beach. USGS photo.
On August 13, USGS scientists collect recent spatter samples of episode 30 lava from a temporary fissure feature that appeared early in episode 30. The chemistry of these lava samples is analyzed to better understand the source and storage of magma driving Hawaiian eruptions. USGS photo by K. Mulliken
On August 13, USGS scientists collect recent spatter samples of episode 30 lava from a temporary fissure feature that appeared early in episode 30. The chemistry of these lava samples is analyzed to better understand the source and storage of magma driving Hawaiian eruptions. USGS photo by K. Mulliken
This image from August 13, 2025, shows spatter on the western wall of Halema‘uma‘u crater where samples were collected. No molten lava was visible during the overflight and the Kīlauea summit eruption remains paused. USGS photo by D. Downs
This image from August 13, 2025, shows spatter on the western wall of Halema‘uma‘u crater where samples were collected. No molten lava was visible during the overflight and the Kīlauea summit eruption remains paused. USGS photo by D. Downs
August 13 - View of the lava/tephra pile from the sampling location on the temporary fissure from episode 30. The helicopter landed on the crater floor on the new pāhoehoe lava that formed while the talus slope of the fissure vent was erupting.
August 13 - View of the lava/tephra pile from the sampling location on the temporary fissure from episode 30. The helicopter landed on the crater floor on the new pāhoehoe lava that formed while the talus slope of the fissure vent was erupting.
A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field engineer works on the infrastructure that supports the MLcam and MTcam on the north rim of Moku‘āweoweo, the summit caldera of Mauna Loa volcano. The MLcam provides visual imagery of Moku‘āweoweo while the MTcam provides thermal imagery.
A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field engineer works on the infrastructure that supports the MLcam and MTcam on the north rim of Moku‘āweoweo, the summit caldera of Mauna Loa volcano. The MLcam provides visual imagery of Moku‘āweoweo while the MTcam provides thermal imagery.
An aerial view of Kīlauea Iki and Pu‘u Pua‘i taken during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Obsrvatory monitoring overflight of Kīlauea summit on August 8.
An aerial view of Kīlauea Iki and Pu‘u Pua‘i taken during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Obsrvatory monitoring overflight of Kīlauea summit on August 8.
This aerial image, taken during a Kīlauea summit overflight on August 8, 2025, looks southwest towards the ocean. In the foreground, two small lava flows that were erupted from Kīlauea in 1982 and 1971 are visible. The darker one on the left is from September 1971, while the shiny grey one on the right is from September 1982.
This aerial image, taken during a Kīlauea summit overflight on August 8, 2025, looks southwest towards the ocean. In the foreground, two small lava flows that were erupted from Kīlauea in 1982 and 1971 are visible. The darker one on the left is from September 1971, while the shiny grey one on the right is from September 1982.
An aerial image taken during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring overflight, following the end of episode 30 on August 6.
An aerial image taken during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring overflight, following the end of episode 30 on August 6.
Kīlauea has had 30 episodes of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu crater, within the summit caldera, since December 23, 2024. This infographic summarizes the past 30 episodes of activity, providing context for this episodic eruption and summarizing the relevant hazards. USGS graphic.
Kīlauea has had 30 episodes of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu crater, within the summit caldera, since December 23, 2024. This infographic summarizes the past 30 episodes of activity, providing context for this episodic eruption and summarizing the relevant hazards. USGS graphic.
A USGS geologist collects a molten sample of the episode 30 lava flows, quenching the sample in a bucket of water. The chemistry of these lava samples is analyzed to better understand the source and storage of magma driving Hawaiian eruptions. USGS photo by M. Patrick taken on August 6, 2025.
A USGS geologist collects a molten sample of the episode 30 lava flows, quenching the sample in a bucket of water. The chemistry of these lava samples is analyzed to better understand the source and storage of magma driving Hawaiian eruptions. USGS photo by M. Patrick taken on August 6, 2025.
A helicopter overflight on the morning of August 6, during episode 30 of the ongoing Halema‘uma‘u eruption, provided aerial views of the lava fountaining and numerous channelized lava flows covering the crater floor. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
A helicopter overflight on the morning of August 6, during episode 30 of the ongoing Halema‘uma‘u eruption, provided aerial views of the lava fountaining and numerous channelized lava flows covering the crater floor. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
On the south rim of Halemaʻumaʻu, new sink holes in ash and tephra that blankets the ground in this area were observed following episode 30 of the Kīlauea summit eruption on August 6. The sinkholes formed due to underlying cracks that opened as a result of the new fissure in the south wall of the caldera. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
On the south rim of Halemaʻumaʻu, new sink holes in ash and tephra that blankets the ground in this area were observed following episode 30 of the Kīlauea summit eruption on August 6. The sinkholes formed due to underlying cracks that opened as a result of the new fissure in the south wall of the caldera. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists watched a spectacular sunrise over Kīlauea summit eruption episode 30 on the morning of August 6. Lava flows had covered about 60% of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor by that time. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists watched a spectacular sunrise over Kīlauea summit eruption episode 30 on the morning of August 6. Lava flows had covered about 60% of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor by that time. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
Early in the morning on August 6, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists visited the western rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater to observe Kīlauea summit eruption episode 30. Lava fountains were reaching about 70 meters (230 feet) above the north vent at the time. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
Early in the morning on August 6, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists visited the western rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater to observe Kīlauea summit eruption episode 30. Lava fountains were reaching about 70 meters (230 feet) above the north vent at the time. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
A view of the episode 30 lava fountaining in the north vent, taken from the west rim of Kaluapele, Kīlauea's summit caldera. The fountaining was sending out several lava channels across the crater floor, with lava flows reaching the eastern portion of Halema‘uma‘u crater. USGS photo taken by M. Patrick on August 6, 2025.
A view of the episode 30 lava fountaining in the north vent, taken from the west rim of Kaluapele, Kīlauea's summit caldera. The fountaining was sending out several lava channels across the crater floor, with lava flows reaching the eastern portion of Halema‘uma‘u crater. USGS photo taken by M. Patrick on August 6, 2025.
The August 6 thermal map shows the widespread channelized lava flows covering the crater floor, originating from the episode 30 lava fountaining in the western end of Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. Most of the lava originated from the vigorous fountaining at the north vent, with the weak fountaining at the south vent contributing a smaller volume.
The August 6 thermal map shows the widespread channelized lava flows covering the crater floor, originating from the episode 30 lava fountaining in the western end of Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. Most of the lava originated from the vigorous fountaining at the north vent, with the weak fountaining at the south vent contributing a smaller volume.