Images

This reference map depicts the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption as of approximately 6:00 PM on September 29, 2021. Several new fissures (orange lines) within Halema‘uma‘u have erupted enough lava (red) to cover nearly all of the 12/2021–5/2021 lava lake by more than 36 ft (11 m).

A telephoto image of one of the low lava fountains near the center of the growing Halema'uma'u lava lake. The ongoing eruption at the summit of Kīlauea is confined within Halema'uma'u, with numerous lava fountains producing lava and volcanic gases.

Tephra from the recent eruption within Halema'uma'u, at Kīlauea summit, is accumulating downwind of the active vents. Tephra is a term that describes products of an eruption that travel through the air before being deposited.

This image from the northwest rim of Halema'uma'u crater was taken in the late morning on September 29, 2021, just a few hours before the new Kīlauea summit eruption began. The solidified lava lake (center) was emplaced between December 2020 and May 2021. USGS photo taken by L. Gallant.

At approximately 3:20 p.m. HST on September 29, 2021, an eruption began within Halemaʻumaʻu crater in Kīlauea’s summit caldera, within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

An image of the new Kīlauea summit fissure eruption within Halema'uma'u crater taken at approximately 4:15 p.m. HST on September 29, 2021.

At approximately 4:43 p.m. HST on September 29, 2021, another vent opened on the west wall of Halemaʻumaʻu crater, a little more than an hour after new fissure vents opened on the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. By 5:09 p.m., when this photo was taken, the west wall vents had grown.

A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist takes video of the eruption that started within Halema'uma'u crater, Kīlauea summit, at about 3:20 p.m. on September 29, 2021. Scientists continue to monitor the eruption and hazards from within an area of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park that remains closed to the public due to safety reasons.

At approximately 4:43 p.m. HST on September 29, 2021, another vent opened on the west wall of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. This telephoto image shows the vent area and lava fountain through volcanic gas. USGS image. 

An eruption began within Halemaʻumaʻu crater in Kīlauea’s summit caldera, within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, on September 29, 2021. Vigorous lava fountains formed in the middle part of the lava lake that was active in Halemaʻumaʻu crater from December 2020 until May 2021.

The ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption within Halema'uma'u crater continues to feed low lava fountains in the center of the lava lake (pictured) and along the western wall of Halema'uma'u. This telephoto image is looking east at the center of the rising lava lake.

A telephoto image of fissures that opened on the western wall of Halema'uma'u crater during the ongoing eruption that began yesterday, September 29, at approximately 3:21 p.m. HST. Lava from multiple fissures continues to slowly raise the level of the new active lava lake at the summit of Kīlauea. USGS image by M. Patrick.

The new eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater at Kīlauea's summit is depositing tephra downwind of the erupting vents. Tephra is a term that describes products of an eruption that travel through the air before being deposited.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists collect tephra samples from the recent eruption within Halema'uma'u, at Kīlauea summit.  Geochemical analyses of these eruption products will provide information about magma storage prior to the eruption. USGS image by K. Lynn. 

KWcam image taken on September 28, 2021, before the eruption began in Halemaʻumaʻu on September 29, 2021.  Several islands, including the one in the center of the crater that formed on December 20, 2020, are surrounded by younger lava flows erupted during the December 2020-May 2021 Kīlauea summit eruption. USGS photo.

A view looking north into Halema‘uma‘u, at Kīlauea's summit, on September 24, 2021, seen during a brief clear spell between passing rain clouds. There has been no significant change in the surface elevation of the solidified crust of the lava lake since the eruption paused in late May 2021.

A paint brush is very useful to discern individual Kulanaokuaiki Tephra units by clearing away overlying younger ash and Pele's hair. At this field site on the south flank of Kīlauea, the Kulanaokuaiki Tephra is overlain by Observatory Shield lava flows and underlain by the Kīpuka Nēnē lava flows.

No changes were observed at Kīlauea's summit during a brief field visit on September 3, 2021. Sunny weather made for spectacular views, though strong winds were blowing. The solidified crust of the lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u—which was active from December 2020 to May 2021—is visible in the lower center of this image. USGS photo by K. Mulliken.

View from a temporary webcam, which is located just southwest of Kīlauea summit caldera, and looks south over the area of the August 2021 intrusion. The dark lava flow on the left of image (mid-ground) is where the 1982 lava flow spilled out of the south caldera.

An HVO scientist clears tephra from a solar panel during the September 2021 Kīlauea summit eruption. A glove is used to brush away the Pele’s hair and other fine volcanic glass fragments to avoid small cuts and splinters.

View to the southwest from HVO station HRPKE, showing Pu‘ukoa‘e on Kīlauea's Southwest Rift Zone in the background.