Images

This photograph of Kīlauea's ongoing middle East Rift Zone eruption was captured during a Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight during the morning of September 17, 2024. Fissures from the previous day's eruption continued to emit steam and gases while new fissures erupted fresh lava in Nāpau Crater. USGS photo by A. Ellis.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists collected a sample of the middle East Rift Zone Kīlauea eruption in Nāpau Crater, within a closed area Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Geologists put molten lava into a metal bucket and rapidly quench it with water.

This photograph of Kīlauea's ongoing middle East Rift Zone eruption was captured during a Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight during the morning of September 17, 2024. This low-angle view looking southwest shows three lava fountains; the tallest is approximately 10 meters (30 feet) high.

This reference map depicts fissures and lava flows from the Kīlauea middle East Rift Zone eruption on Tuesday, September 17, 2024. The presented data are current as of the final Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight of the day, which occurred at approximately 10:30 a.m.

This photograph of Kīlauea's ongoing middle East Rift Zone eruption was captured during a Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight during the morning of September 17, 2024. Geologists observed fountaining eruptive fissures and active lava flows on the floor of Nāpau Crater, just downrift (northeast) of the September 15 eruptive fissure.

Kīlauea volcano is erupting in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park from a new fissure vent that opened within Nāpau Crater this morning, September 17, between 4:00 and 5:00 AM HST.  The eruption is occurring within a closed and remote area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists collected a sample of the middle East Rift Zone Kīlauea eruption in Nāpau Crater, within a closed area Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Geologists put molten lava into a metal bucket and rapidly quench it with water.

This photograph of Kīlauea's ongoing middle East Rift Zone eruption was captured during a Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight during the morning of September 17, 2024. This photo was taken at 8:11 am H.S.T.

The S2cam was deployed on September 17, 2024, to monitor the Kīlauea middle East Rift Zone eruption. The webcam is located just east of Nāpau Crater, where the eruption is occurring, and looks to the southwest. USGS webcam image. 

This photograph of Kīlauea's ongoing middle East Rift Zone eruption was captured during a Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight during the morning of September 17, 2024. This photo was taken at 7:30 am H.S.T.

A benchmark on Kīlauea being surveyed by GPS campaign instruments. The metal disk on the ground beneath the tripod is the benchmark, which is cemented to the lava flow surface. During annual GPS surveys, measurements are made on the benchmarks to allow for comparisons to previous surveys. USGS photo by A. Ellis.

This photograph of Kīlauea's ongoing middle East Rift Zone eruption was captured during a Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight during the morning of September 17, 2024. Geologists observed fountaining eruptive fissures and active lava flows bisecting the floor of Nāpau Crater, just downrift (northeast) of the September 15 eruptive fissure.

An early morning view of the plume of volcanic gas being emitted by the eruption on Kīlauea’s middle East Rift Zone. This view, from Halapē campground on the coast in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, shows the plume being transported downwind in a southwest direction.

A view under the plume of volcanic gas being transported by wind southwest from the eruption in Nāpau Crater on the middle East Rift Zone of Kīlauea.

A helicopter overflight on September 17, 2024, allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected at the middle East Rift Zone eruption site on Kīlauea. The eruptive activity continues with fountains active within Nāpau Crater and lava flowing on the crater floor, marking an eastward shift in activity compared to September 15.

HVO scientists are conducting the annual Kīlauea GPS campaign. During the survey, GPS instruments are deployed at established benchmarks so that their recorded positions can be compared with those from previous years to discern subtle patterns of ground deformation associated with volcanic activity.

Another aerial view of the small lava flows erupted by Kīlauea over about an hour on September 15, 2024. This eruption took place on the remote middle East Rift Zone, within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Although the eruption was over during the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory morning overflight, volcanic gas emissions were continuing.

A brief, small eruption occurred on the middle East Rift Zone of Kīlauea late on September 15. The eruption produced two small pads of lava just west of Nāpau Crater, which is west (uprift) of the former Pu‘u‘ō‘ō eruption site. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

During a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory overflight at approximately 10:30 a.m. HST on September 16, geologists observed freshly erupted lava west of Nāpau Crater on the remote middle East Rift Zone of Kīlauea, within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. This eruption likely occurred between approximately 9–10 p.m. HST on September 15.  

Dead trees and vegetation are surrounded by freshly erupted lava west of Nāpau Crater on the remote middle East Rift Zone of Kīlauea, within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. This eruption likely occurred between approximately 9–10 p.m. HST on September 15.  USGS photo by M. Zoeller. 

During a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory overflight at approximately 10:30 a.m. HST on September 16, geologists observed steam rising above freshly erupted lava west of Nāpau Crater on the remote middle East Rift Zone of Kīlauea, within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. This eruption likely occurred between approximately 9–10 p.m.