Images

Scientists temporarily deployed a handful of temporary GPS instruments at established benchmarks in Kīlauea south caldera region to better measure ground deformation during the ongoing unrest there. Steady rates of earthquakes have persisted in this area since August 22.

On August 8, 2023, HVO field engineers visited the UWE tiltmeter station near Kīlauea summit. Field engineers serviced the instrument, which was experiencing temporary date outages. USGS photo by M. Cappos.

Low-angle aerial view of the Great Crack and surrounding 1823 lava flows (dark gray) along Kīlauea’s lower Southwest Rift Zone. The crack is about 50 feet (15 meters) wide in this area with similar but variable depth, depending on the amount of rock rubble filling the opening. USGS photo by D. Downs.

A panoramic photograph of Makaopuhi Crater on the middle East Rift Zone of Kīlauea. Makapohi Crater is located between Maunaulu and Puʻuʻōʻō; lava flows from the Maunaulu eruption (1969-1974) traveled east and cascaded into Makaopuhi Crater, partially paving the floor of the crater with new lava (dark gray material in the foreground of the photo).

A panoramic photograph of Makaopuhi Crater on the middle East Rift Zone of Kīlauea. Makapohi Crater is located between Maunaulu and Puʻuʻōʻō, two lava shields that formed during long-lived (years) eruptions on the middle East Rift Zone.

On July 27, 2023, an HVO geologist sampled tephra from one of Kīlauea's largest explosive eruptions (900 CE) that is preserved in soil found on the volcano's south flank near the coast.

This reference map depicts the Kīlauea summit region following the most recent eruption in June 2023. The provided statistics for that eruption were measured during a Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight just days after the June 19 eruptive pause.

During July, HVO staff and collaborators install temporary instruments to collect magnetotelluric (MT) data on Kīlauea. At each location, electrodes, induction-coil magnetometers, and data loggers are deployed for about a month. This photo shows a magnetometer in the foreground being buried in a narrow and shallow trench to minimize wind noise.

A USGS geophysicist measures contact resistance on electrodes at a temporary magnetotelluric site. The electrodes require electrical contact with the ground and are buried in shallow holes about the width and depth of a spade head. Data collected by the instruments will help to image the structure and fluids beneath the surface of Kīlauea.

USGS scientists are deploying temporary sites on Kīlauea during July to conduct magnetotelluric (MT) sounding. At each site, electrodes and wire coils buried at shallow depths will passively measure the electromagnetic (EM) energy generated by lightning strikes around the equator.

USGS staff are deploying temporarily instruments to collect ground-based magnetotelluric (MT) data to image structure and fluids beneath the surface of Kīlauea.

View looking south over Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the Kīlauea summit, captured during a helicopter overflight on Thursday, June 22, 2023. The cone built up during the most recent eruption is visible on the southwest (center-right) wall of the crater.

View looking southwest across the Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor within the Kīlauea summit caldera, captured during a helicopter overflight on Thursday, June 22, 2023. Lava erupted during the most recent eruption comprises the crater floor in the bottom half of the photo.

Progression of corrosion after approximately six months’ deployment time. Coupons of copper (on left), mild steel (center) and zinc (right) on 21 June 2023. Photo by Carol Stewart (Massey University).

Just hours after the pause in the Kīlauea summit eruption on June 19, 2023, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists visited the south rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater to check for any residual activity. They captured this photo of the inactive eruptive vent (lower left) and the cooling lava lake (right).

Lava fountaining and effusion in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea, paused abruptly around 4:00 p.m. on Monday, June 19. This comparison shows activity at the southwest wall eruptive vent the day before (left), and the same spot just after activity paused on Monday (right). USGS photo by M. Patrick.

A nighttime view of the southwest side of Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea on Saturday, June 17, 2023. Seen here are the lava fountain and channel emerging from the base of the spatter cone that forms eruptive vent on the southwest wall of the crater. USGS photo by M. Cappos.

A nighttime close-up view of the upwelling area at the base of the spatter cone within Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea on Saturday, June 17, 2023. This upwelling feeds a lava channel that spreads out to the east of the spatter cone. USGS photo by M. Cappos.

A long-exposure view of the lava fountain in Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea on Saturday, June 17, 2023. The long exposure time allows the camera to capture the full arc-shaped trajectories of spatter fragments thrown out by the lava fountain. USGS photo by P. Nadeau.

A USGS gas scientist uses an infrared spectrometer to collect gas chemistry measurements from the plume in Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea on Saturday, June 17, 2023.

A nighttime close-up view of spattering from the lava fountain on the southwest wall of Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea on Saturday, June 17, 2023. The fountain is to the left of this photo’s field of view; the fragments of lava darken as they cool and solidify mid-air as they travel away from the fountaining vent. USGS photo by P. Nadeau.