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Kīlauea videos of eruptive activity, field work, and more.

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A closer look at Kīlauea's summit lava lake on Wednesday evening, a... Volcano Awareness Month 2022 Short Feature — Video throwbacks of the past decade on Kīlauea
Volcano Awareness Month 2022 Short Feature — Video throwbacks of the past decade on Kīlauea
Volcano Awareness Month 2022 Short Feature — Video throwbacks of the past decade on Kīlauea

The past ten years have seen historic changes on Kīlauea volcano, spanning from the summit, down the East Rift Zone, and to the coast.

Color photograph showing the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. Volcano Awareness Month 2022 Short Feature — HVO’s ongoing recovery from the 2018 Kīlauea events
Volcano Awareness Month 2022 Short Feature — HVO’s ongoing recovery from the 2018 Kīlauea events
Volcano Awareness Month 2022 Short Feature — HVO’s ongoing recovery from the 2018 Kīlauea events

Communities on the Island of Hawai‘i continue to recover from Kīlauea’s 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption and summit collapse as does the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). During the events of 2018, HVO instruments were lost, monitoring infrastructure was impacted, and HVO staff had to evacuate the observatory, which was damaged beyond repair.

Communities on the Island of Hawai‘i continue to recover from Kīlauea’s 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption and summit collapse as does the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). During the events of 2018, HVO instruments were lost, monitoring infrastructure was impacted, and HVO staff had to evacuate the observatory, which was damaged beyond repair.

Scientist on crater rim uses equipment to measure volcanic gases emitted from the active lava lake below Volcano Awareness Month 2022 Volcanic Gas Update — The ups and downs of Kīlauea’s gas emissions in 2021
Volcano Awareness Month 2022 Volcanic Gas Update — The ups and downs of Kīlauea’s gas emissions in 2021
Volcano Awareness Month 2022 Volcanic Gas Update — The ups and downs of Kīlauea’s gas emissions in 2021

Incredibly high sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rates were measured during the lower East Rift Zone of Kīlauea in 2018—nearly 200,000 tonnes per day. Emissions dropped to only about 30 tonnes per day during Kīlauea’s non-eruptive quiet period from 2018–2020.

Incredibly high sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rates were measured during the lower East Rift Zone of Kīlauea in 2018—nearly 200,000 tonnes per day. Emissions dropped to only about 30 tonnes per day during Kīlauea’s non-eruptive quiet period from 2018–2020.

Aerial view of the Kīlauea summit eruption showing active fissures and flowing lava. Volcano Awareness Month 2022 Geology Update — Kīlauea erupts after more than two years of quiet—twice!
Volcano Awareness Month 2022 Geology Update — Kīlauea erupts after more than two years of quiet—twice!
Volcano Awareness Month 2022 Geology Update — Kīlauea erupts after more than two years of quiet—twice!

Following the lower East Rift Zone eruption and summit collapse of Kīlauea in 2018, the volcano remained quiet for more than two years. Lava returned to Kīlauea in December 2020, boiling off the water lake that had been present at the base of Halema‘uma‘u crater, and starting a five-month long eruption in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

Following the lower East Rift Zone eruption and summit collapse of Kīlauea in 2018, the volcano remained quiet for more than two years. Lava returned to Kīlauea in December 2020, boiling off the water lake that had been present at the base of Halema‘uma‘u crater, and starting a five-month long eruption in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

Color map of earthquake activity Volcano Awareness Month 2022 Seismology Update — 2021: A year of earthquake activity on the Island of Hawai‘i
Volcano Awareness Month 2022 Seismology Update — 2021: A year of earthquake activity on the Island of Hawai‘i
Volcano Awareness Month 2022 Seismology Update — 2021: A year of earthquake activity on the Island of Hawai‘i

The last year has been a busy one for seismologists at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Earthquake activity at Kīlauea summit has varied over the past year, with upticks in a variety of seismic signals providing clues to the start of the December 2020 and September 2021 Kīlauea summit eruptions.

The last year has been a busy one for seismologists at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Earthquake activity at Kīlauea summit has varied over the past year, with upticks in a variety of seismic signals providing clues to the start of the December 2020 and September 2021 Kīlauea summit eruptions.

Color photograph of active volcanic vent Eruptive activity resumes at west vent in Halema‘uma‘u - December 30, 2021
Eruptive activity resumes at west vent in Halema‘uma‘u - December 30, 2021
Eruptive activity resumes at west vent in Halema‘uma‘u - December 30, 2021

Eruptive activity resumed today in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea volcano, after a brief pause of several days. This video shows spattering and lava effusion from the west vent, which has built a steep spatter cone. 

Eruptive activity resumed today in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea volcano, after a brief pause of several days. This video shows spattering and lava effusion from the west vent, which has built a steep spatter cone. 

Rise of the Halema‘uma‘u Lava Lake—May 13, 2021 Volcano Awareness Month 2022 Short Feature — Three-dimensional mapping of Kīlauea
Volcano Awareness Month 2022 Short Feature — Three-dimensional mapping of Kīlauea
Volcano Awareness Month 2022 Short Feature — Three-dimensional mapping of Kīlauea

Structure-from-motion techniques use photographs taken from different angles to reconstruct the three-dimensional shape of an object. At Kīlauea, this technique has been used to rapidly generate maps of eruption activity from aerial imagery, allowing scientists to quantify changes over time such as the volume of lava erupted and surface area covered by lava.

Structure-from-motion techniques use photographs taken from different angles to reconstruct the three-dimensional shape of an object. At Kīlauea, this technique has been used to rapidly generate maps of eruption activity from aerial imagery, allowing scientists to quantify changes over time such as the volume of lava erupted and surface area covered by lava.

lava flowing Activity at the west vent and lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u
Activity at the west vent and lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u
Activity at the west vent and lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u

Eruptive activity on the west side of HALMEMAUMAU crater, Kīlauea summit, on December 20. Audible bubble bursts from the west vent (lower right) produced brown-tinted gas plumes with entrained lava fragments. The bursts also created pressure waves that displaced the white steam.

Eruptive activity on the west side of HALMEMAUMAU crater, Kīlauea summit, on December 20. Audible bubble bursts from the west vent (lower right) produced brown-tinted gas plumes with entrained lava fragments. The bursts also created pressure waves that displaced the white steam.

images of the mineral olivine Volcano Awareness Month 2022 Short Feature — The olivine time capsule
Volcano Awareness Month 2022 Short Feature — The olivine time capsule
Volcano Awareness Month 2022 Short Feature — The olivine time capsule

Olivine—the green mineral found in Hawaiian lavas—and its chemistry can tell us a lot about how, when, and where magmas move inside volcanoes before they erupt. Join Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Kendra J.

Olivine—the green mineral found in Hawaiian lavas—and its chemistry can tell us a lot about how, when, and where magmas move inside volcanoes before they erupt. Join Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Kendra J.

lava Halema‘uma‘u west vent lava pond with koa‘e kea bird
Halema‘uma‘u west vent lava pond with koa‘e kea bird
Halema‘uma‘u west vent lava pond with koa‘e kea bird

Lava continues to erupt from a perched lava pond within the west vent of Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. This video shows nearly continuous spatter bursts through the pond and a roiling and sloshing pond surface. At about 43 seconds into the video, a white-trailed tropicbird (koa‘e kea) flies through the frame.

Lava continues to erupt from a perched lava pond within the west vent of Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. This video shows nearly continuous spatter bursts through the pond and a roiling and sloshing pond surface. At about 43 seconds into the video, a white-trailed tropicbird (koa‘e kea) flies through the frame.

lava flowing Overflow of a perched levee—Halema‘uma‘u, Kīlauea summit
Overflow of a perched levee—Halema‘uma‘u, Kīlauea summit
Overflow of a perched levee—Halema‘uma‘u, Kīlauea summit

Lava continues to erupt from the west vent in Halema‘uma‘u, and supply the lava lake through a spillway in the spatter cone. On November 12, a small overflow of the perched lava lake levee was visible from the western crater rim. Overflows are an important process for building up perched levees, as they help add height and stability.

Lava continues to erupt from the west vent in Halema‘uma‘u, and supply the lava lake through a spillway in the spatter cone. On November 12, a small overflow of the perched lava lake levee was visible from the western crater rim. Overflows are an important process for building up perched levees, as they help add height and stability.

lava Lava sloshing and spattering in west vent in Halema‘uma‘u crater at Kīlauea volcano
Lava sloshing and spattering in west vent in Halema‘uma‘u crater at Kīlauea volcano
Lava sloshing and spattering in west vent in Halema‘uma‘u crater at Kīlauea volcano

Lava continues to erupt from the west vent in Halema‘uma‘u, and supply the lava lake through a spillway in the spatter cone. On November 9, a close-up view of the west vent shows spatter bursting and sloshing within the cone. Spatter was thrown about 6–9 m (20–30 ft) above the pond surface, occasionally depositing spatter onto the rim of the cone. 

Lava continues to erupt from the west vent in Halema‘uma‘u, and supply the lava lake through a spillway in the spatter cone. On November 9, a close-up view of the west vent shows spatter bursting and sloshing within the cone. Spatter was thrown about 6–9 m (20–30 ft) above the pond surface, occasionally depositing spatter onto the rim of the cone. 

lava November 1, 2021 — Kīlauea summit eruption
November 1, 2021 — Kīlauea summit eruption
November 1, 2021 — Kīlauea summit eruption

Eruptive activity continues in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. The west vent remains active with low fountaining in a slightly perched pond set within the cone. Lava pours through a short spillway into the lava lake. The base level of the pond fluctuates over the timespan of minutes.

Eruptive activity continues in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. The west vent remains active with low fountaining in a slightly perched pond set within the cone. Lava pours through a short spillway into the lava lake. The base level of the pond fluctuates over the timespan of minutes.

lava One year thermal camera time-lapse—Kīlauea summit
One year thermal camera time-lapse—Kīlauea summit
One year thermal camera time-lapse—Kīlauea summit

It has been one month since the new eruption began in Halema'uma'u. Over the past year at Kīlauea summit there has been a water lake and two eruptions within Halema'uma'u crater.

It has been one month since the new eruption began in Halema'uma'u. Over the past year at Kīlauea summit there has been a water lake and two eruptions within Halema'uma'u crater.

color thumbnail for Image of the Week - Kilauea 2021 Image of the Week - Kilauea 2021
Image of the Week - Kilauea 2021
Image of the Week - Kilauea 2021

The volcanic activity of Kilauea continues on the island of Hawaii. The latest eruption began within Halema'uma'u Crater on September 29. The previous eruption just ended in May 2021. Before that, major lava flows covered the eastern tip of Hawaii's Big Island in 2018. This latest eruption included vigorous fountaining up to 50-60m high.

The volcanic activity of Kilauea continues on the island of Hawaii. The latest eruption began within Halema'uma'u Crater on September 29. The previous eruption just ended in May 2021. Before that, major lava flows covered the eastern tip of Hawaii's Big Island in 2018. This latest eruption included vigorous fountaining up to 50-60m high.

lava Kīlauea summit eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu crater - October 2, 2021
Kīlauea summit eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu crater - October 2, 2021
Kīlauea summit eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu crater - October 2, 2021

Eruptive activity continues in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea. The west vent remains active with low fountaining in a slightly perched pond set within the cone. Lava pours through a short spillway into the lava lake.

Eruptive activity continues in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea. The west vent remains active with low fountaining in a slightly perched pond set within the cone. Lava pours through a short spillway into the lava lake.

Color photograph of volcanic vent Morning views of the eruption in Halema‘uma‘u - October 23, 2021
Morning views of the eruption in Halema‘uma‘u - October 23, 2021
Morning views of the eruption in Halema‘uma‘u - October 23, 2021

Morning views of the eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater, at Kīlauea summit, on October 23, 2021. This view is from the south rim of the crater. Lava continues to erupt from a single vent on the western wall of the crater. Lava fountains within the cone and spills out of the cone opening, flowing east into the lake.

Morning views of the eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater, at Kīlauea summit, on October 23, 2021. This view is from the south rim of the crater. Lava continues to erupt from a single vent on the western wall of the crater. Lava fountains within the cone and spills out of the cone opening, flowing east into the lake.

Color photograph of lava lake Morning views of Halema‘uma‘u west vent & lava lake - October 23, 2021
Morning views of Halema‘uma‘u west vent & lava lake - October 23, 2021
Morning views of Halema‘uma‘u west vent & lava lake - October 23, 2021

Morning views of the eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater, at Kīlauea summit, on October 23, 2021. Variable west vent fountain heights are visible in this video, which is shown at 5 times speed.

Morning views of the eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater, at Kīlauea summit, on October 23, 2021. Variable west vent fountain heights are visible in this video, which is shown at 5 times speed.

Color photograph of lava lake Kīlauea summit overflight - October 15, 2021
Kīlauea summit overflight - October 15, 2021
Kīlauea summit overflight - October 15, 2021

A morning overflight of Kīlauea summit on October 15, 2021, provided aerial views of the eruption within Halema‘uma‘u. Lava erupts from a single vent on the western wall of the crater. The vent has a spatter cone around it, with an opening to the east from which lava flows into the lava lake. 

A morning overflight of Kīlauea summit on October 15, 2021, provided aerial views of the eruption within Halema‘uma‘u. Lava erupts from a single vent on the western wall of the crater. The vent has a spatter cone around it, with an opening to the east from which lava flows into the lava lake. 

Kīlauea summit eruption—October 12, 2021
Kīlauea summit eruption—October 12, 2021
Kīlauea summit eruption—October 12, 2021

The eruption continues within Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea. The western vent supplies lava into the lava lake through a short spillway. Consistent fountain heights of 10–15 meters (30–50 ft) were interrupted by frequent larger busts of spatter exceeding the height of the cone (30 m or 100 ft). 

The eruption continues within Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea. The western vent supplies lava into the lava lake through a short spillway. Consistent fountain heights of 10–15 meters (30–50 ft) were interrupted by frequent larger busts of spatter exceeding the height of the cone (30 m or 100 ft). 

Lava fountaining in Halema'uma'u crater—October 12, 2021
Lava fountaining in Halema'uma'u crater—October 12, 2021
Lava fountaining in Halema'uma'u crater—October 12, 2021

Lava continues to erupt from the western vent in Halema‘uma‘u. On October 12, a short-lived vent (erupting for approximately 10 hours) was present to the north of the main vent (right). Lava fountaining from the main vent was 10–15 meters (30–50 ft) above the lake surface, with larger bursts exceeding the height of the cone (30 meters or 100 ft).

Lava continues to erupt from the western vent in Halema‘uma‘u. On October 12, a short-lived vent (erupting for approximately 10 hours) was present to the north of the main vent (right). Lava fountaining from the main vent was 10–15 meters (30–50 ft) above the lake surface, with larger bursts exceeding the height of the cone (30 meters or 100 ft).

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