Videos

Tens of thousands of earthquakes occur each year in Hawaii, making it one of the most seismically active places in the United States.

2018 and 2019 were years of profound change at Kīlauea Volcano and the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Devastation caused by the largest lower East Rift Zone eruption and summit collapse in at least 200 years resulted in many transitions for island residents, including HVO.

This timelapse sequence shows two hours of activity at the water pond in Halema‘uma‘u, at Kīlauea's summit. Flow is evident along the sharp orange color boundary in the center of the pond, as well as along portions of the shoreline. The pond is 189 m (650 ft) long. The vido was taken on the eastern rim.

An overflight on December 18 provided aerial photographs of Kīlauea caldera, which were used to construct a 3D model. The water pond is visible in the deepest portion of Halema‘uma‘u crater. For scale, the water pond is 189 m (650 ft) long and approximately 600 m (1970 ft) below the western caldera rim.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists Frank Younger and Patricia Nadeau talk about sampling the water at the bottom of Halemaʻumaʻu, a crater at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. The water appeared in July 2019 and has steadily risen since then.

This video was captured by the unmanned aircraft system (UAS) as it collected a water sample in Halema‘uma‘u, at Kīlauea's summit. Limited UAS flights in this area are conducted with permission and coordination with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

The Unoccupied Aircraft System (UAS) that collected water from the crater lake in Halema‘uma‘u on October 26 was outfitted with both visual and infrared (thermal) cameras. This reconnaissance video shows fumarolic activity on the walls of the crater. Fumaroles appear light in color (yellow and white) in the visual imagery due to alteration of the crater wall rock.

In this October 26 reconnaissance survey, the Unoccupied Aircraft System (UAS) reaches the northeast part of the Halema‘uma‘u crater lake, where large rocks at the lake margin are often used to visually track the rising water level. Taken over a period of about 5.5 minutes, the survey is shown at 3 times the speed it was filmed.

This video shows a close-up of the unmanned aircraft system collecting a water sample in Halema‘uma‘u. USGS video by M. Patrick, 26 Oct 2019.

Prior to the Unoccupied Aircraft System (UAS) mission that collected a water sample from Halema‘uma‘u at Kīlauea's summit on October 26, reconnaissance UAS missions were flown. This video, taken over a period of 15 minutes, has been sped up 7 times to show the UAS as it approaches Halema‘uma‘u from the southwest.

This thermal video was captured by the UAS as it collected a water sample in Halema‘uma‘u, at Kīlauea's summit.

This video shows the unmanned aircraft system (UAS) collecting a water sample from Halema‘uma‘u. This wider view shows the scale of the UAS relative to the water pond. USGS video by M. Patrick, 26 Oct 2019.

This video shows another view of the unmanned aircraft system sampling water from Halema‘uma‘u. USGS video by C. Parcheta, 26 Oct 2019.

This timelapse video covers 1.5 hours and shows the motion of the water surface at the summit of Kīlauea. Along the shoreline, areas of apparent water influx are visible, often with a slightly greener color. Shifting steam on the surface attests to the high temperature of the water and the winds at the bottom of the crater.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists Matt Patrick and Jim Kauahikaua talk about the water that appeared at the bottom of Halemaʻumaʻu, a crater at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano, in July 2019 and continues to rise today. They address why it appeared, how it’s monitored, and its potential hazards.
 

This timelapse video covers about 30 minutes of activity at the water pond in Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea. Water appears to be flowing into the pond from several locations, including the southern boundary (right side in this image). A small amount of material is also seen floating on the surface at the eastern end of the pond (top of image).

This time-lapse video shows circulation in the water pond in Halema‘uma‘u over a period of about 25 minutes. There appears to be an influx of water along the southern (right) shoreline. A broader eastward flow of water (toward top of image) is evident. The video is shown twice. USGS video.

Views of the water pond in Halema‘uma‘u on Friday, September 6, and Monday, September 9 are shown in this video. Ripples are evident on the pond, presumably due to wind moving over the water surface. No significant changes in the pond were observed over the weekend, and the water level continues to slowly rise. USGS video by M. Patrick.

Shown at 30x speed, this video highlights changing activity on the surface of the water pond. Steam wafting above the pond shifts in the wind, and circulation of the water is evident in areas of sharp color boundaries. USGS video by M. Patrick, 09-17-2019.

This sequence captured on August 31 begins with a close-up of the fumaroles on the north side of Halema‘uma‘u, then shows a broader view of the crater with the water pond at the bottom and a close-up of steaming and ripples on the water surface. USGS video by M. Patrick, 08-31-2019.

Another day of clear weather provided good views of the water pond in Halema‘uma‘u at Kīlauea's summit. No significant changes were observed, and the thermal camera showed the water surface is still about 70 degrees Celsius (158 degrees Fahrenheit). USGS video by M. Patrick.