Images

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory gas scientists observed and measured the plume of volcanic gas being erupted from Kīlauea's summit on during the afternoon of September 11, 2023.

Kīlauea started erupting on September 10, 2023, at approximately 3:15 p.m. H.S.T., from fissures which extended from the eastern margin of Halema‘uma‘u crater and onto the down-dropped block to the east within Kīlauea’s summit caldera.

The new eruption at the summit of Kīlauea volcano on September 10, 2023. After about an hour of increased seismic activity and uplift, HVO scientists observed the start of the eruption at approximately 3:15 p.m. HST.

This telephoto image, taken from near the Uēkahuna overlook within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, shows the vent in the east wall of the downdropped block erupting on September 10, 2023. As of September 11, 2023, morning, the vent was no longer active and only incandescent. USGS image by M. Patrick.

This image, taken from near the Uēkahuna overlook, shows the main and westernmost fountain within Kīlauea caldera erupting the afternoon of September 10, 2023. This vent is no longer active, and was located on the eastern portion of Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor.

An eruption at the summit of Kīlauea volcano began on September 10, 2023. The main fountain, which HVO geologists estimate is approximately 50 meters tall, is on the eastern margin of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. As of approximately 4:30 p.m.

From the Uēkahuna overlook, the new eruption at the summit of Kīlauea is visible. The farthest east fissure is near the to margin of downdropped block that formed during the 2018 summit collapse. The base of the main fissure, which is farthest west (right on the image), is approximately 70 meters wide.

The new eruption at the summit of Kīlauea volcano on September 10, 2023. After about an hour of increased seismic activity and uplift, HVO scientists observed the start of the eruption at approximately 3:15 p.m. HST.

Vigorous fountaining within Kīlauea caldera was visible from near the Uēkahuna overlook on the evening of September 10, 2023. This image shows fissure vents that opened parallel to the boundary of Halemaʻumaʻu crater near where it intersected the downdropped block. USGS image by M. Patrick.

Graph of tilting at Uēkahuna bluff—at the summit of Kīlauea—in a direction toward and away from Halemʻaumʻau, collected by a water tube tiltmeter (black) and an electronic tiltmeter (grey).  Major intrusions and eruptions are marked by blue and red arrows respectively. USGS plot. 

Stratigraphic column of the Kulanaokuaiki Tephra sequence, and an in-the-field look at this section with closer photographs of subunits K-1, K-3, and K-5. At some localities, there are interbedded lava flows that help correlate units across larger distances on Kīlauea volcano. USGS photos by Abigail Nalesnik.

Temporary GPS survey equipment has been deployed in Kīlauea south caldera area for additional measurements during the ongoing heightened unrest there.

HVO scientists have been closely monitoring the earthquakes in Kīlauea's summit region over the past weeks. Most earthquakes have occurred at depths of 1–2 miles (2–3 kilometers) below the surface, with no upward migration detected.

Last week, HVO staff installed a new webcam—the B2cam—on the down-dropped block within Kīlauea caldera and east rim of Halema‘uma‘u crater. This camera view replaces that of the B1cam, which was moved east during the June 2023 Halema‘uma‘u eruption because it was being exposed to intense heat.

This photo shows one of several temporary GPS survey stations recently deployed in Kīlauea south caldera region. The instruments will record additional measurements during the ongoing heightened unrest. Patterns of earthquakes and ground deformation indicate that Kīlauea's summit is becoming increasingly pressurized.

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.