Photo and Video Chronology – New eruption at Kīlauea summit continues – September 11, 2023

By Hawaiian Volcano Observatory September 11, 2023

The Kīlauea summit eruption that began yesterday at 3:15 p.m., September 10th, continues this morning. Eruptive activity is confined to the downdropped block and Halemaʻumaʻu crater within Kīlauea's summit caldera. No unusual activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

The eruption is occurring in the east portion of Halemaʻumaʻu crater and on the downdropped block to the east, which formed during the 2018 summit collapse. Access to this hazardous area is by permission from, and in coordination with, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

lava at the summit of Kīlauea — HVO geologists observed the new eruption within Kīlauea summit caldera during an eruption-monitoring overflight the morning of September 11, 2023. Multiple minor fountains remain active in the eastern portion of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor and on the downdropped block within Kīlauea's summit caldera. The line of vents stretches approximately 0.8 miles (1.4 km), from the eastern part of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor extending into the east wall of the downdropped block. Lava fountain heights have decreased since the eruption onset, but remain up to about 10-15 meters (32-50 feet) high this morning. USGS photos by J. Schmith.

Color image of eruption in caldera — An aerial view of the eruption at the summit of Kīlauea at approximately 6:30 a.m. HST on September 11, 2023. Multiple minor fountains remain active in the eastern portion of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor and on the downdropped block within Kīlauea's summit caldera. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Color photographs of scientists near eruption — During the morning of September 11, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists conducted an overflight of the new eruption within Kīlauea summit caldera. The eruption is occurring in the east portion of Halemaʻumaʻu crater and on the downdropped block to the east, which formed during the 2018 summit collapse. Halemaʻumaʻu crater is significant to Native Hawaiian communities as it is the home of Pele. A safe location was identified on the downdropped block, from which a geologist, wearing protective equipment, could collect a molten sample of newly erupted material. The sample will provide information on magma storage and transport before it was erupted onto the surface as lava. Access to this hazardous area is by permission from, and in coordination with, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Color photograph of scientist and lava — During the morning of September 11, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists conducted an overflight of the new eruption within Kīlauea summit caldera. The eruption is occurring in the east portion of Halemaʻumaʻu crater and on the downdropped block to the east, which formed during the 2018 summit collapse. Halemaʻumaʻu crater is significant to Native Hawaiian communities as it is the home of Pele. A safe location was identified on the downdropped block, from which a geologist, wearing protective equipment, could collect a molten sample of newly erupted material. The sample will provide information on magma storage and transport before it was erupted onto the surface as lava. Access to this hazardous area is by permission from, and in coordination with, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Kīlauea summit with lava fountains — HVO geologists observed the new eruption within Kīlauea summit caldera during an eruption-monitoring overflight the morning of September 11, 2023. Multiple minor fountains remain active in the eastern portion of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor and on the downdropped block within Kīlauea's summit caldera. The line of vents stretches approximately 0.8 miles (1.4 km), from the eastern part of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor extending into the east wall of the downdropped block. Lava fountain heights have decreased since the eruption onset, but remain up to about 10-15 meters (32-50 feet) high this morning. USGS photos by J. Schmith.

lava fountain at the summit of Kīlauea — HVO geologists observed the new eruption within Kīlauea summit caldera during an eruption-monitoring overflight the morning of September 11, 2023. Multiple minor fountains remain active in the eastern portion of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor and on the downdropped block within Kīlauea's summit caldera. The line of vents stretches approximately 0.8 miles (1.4 km), from the eastern part of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor extending into the east wall of the downdropped block. Lava fountain heights have decreased since the eruption onset, but remain up to about 10-15 meters (32-50 feet) high this morning. USGS photos by J. Schmith.

Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

During the morning of September 11, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists conducted an overflight of the new eruption within the Kīlauea summit caldera. The eruption is occurring in the east portion of Halemaʻumaʻu crater and on the downdropped block to the east, which formed during the 2018 summit collapse. Halemaʻumaʻu crater is significant to Native Hawaiian communities as it is the home of Pele. A safe location was identified on the downdropped block, from which a geologist, wearing protective equipment, could collect a molten sample of newly erupted material. The sample will provide information on magma storage and transport before it was erupted onto the surface as lava. Access to this hazardous area is by permission from, and in coordination with, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

Another eruption at the summit of Kīlauea volcano began at 3:13 p.m. on September 10, 2023. This video, captured by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's B2cam on the east rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater, shows the opening phase of the eruption. A lava fountain bursts from a degassing area in the eastern portion of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. The eruption at Kīlauea’s summit is occurring within a closed area of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park and high levels of volcanic gas are the primary hazard of concern.

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The B1cam, located on the east margin of the down-dropped block within Kīlauea caldera, captured the start of another eruption at the summit of Kīlauea volcano that began at 3:13 p.m. on September 10, 2023. This video shows a lava fountain bursting from a degassing area in the eastern portion of Halemaʻumaʻu crater, with the downdropped block in the foreground. The eruption at Kīlauea’s summit is occurring within a closed area of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park and high levels of volcanic gas are the primary hazard of concern.

Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

This video, captured the evening of September 10, 2023, from near the Uēkahuna overlook within Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, shows the new eruption within Kīlauea caldera. After approximately an hour of elevated earthquake and ground deformation, the eruption began at 3:13 p.m. on September 10, 2023. This video shows lava fountains near the eastern rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater, which were reaching heights up to about 130 feet (40 m). The eruption at Kīlauea’s summit is occurring within a closed area of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park and high levels of volcanic gas are the primary hazard of concern.

lava fountains at the summit of Kīlauea — HVO geologists observed the new eruption within Kīlauea summit caldera during an eruption-monitoring overflight the morning of September 11, 2023. Multiple minor fountains remain active in the eastern portion of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor and on the downdropped block within Kīlauea's summit caldera. The line of vents stretches approximately 0.8 miles (1.4 km), from the eastern part of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor extending into the east wall of the downdropped block. Lava fountain heights have decreased since the eruption onset, but remain up to about 10-15 meters (32-50 feet) high this morning. USGS photos by J. Schmith.

lava fountains at the summit of Kīlauea with black and glowing lava in the foreground — HVO geologists observed the new eruption within Kīlauea summit caldera during an eruption-monitoring overflight the morning of September 11, 2023. Multiple minor fountains remain active in the eastern portion of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor and on the downdropped block within Kīlauea's summit caldera. The line of vents stretches approximately 0.8 miles (1.4 km), from the eastern part of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor extending into the east wall of the downdropped block. Lava fountain heights have decreased since the eruption onset, but remain up to about 10-15 meters (32-50 feet) high this morning. USGS photos by J. Schmith.

New webcam - S2cam

The camera provides a live view of Kīlauea caldera downdropped block and Halemaʻumaʻu crater; the view is from the north rim of the downdropped block and looking west. View it here: [S2cam] - Kīlauea caldera downdropped block and Halemaʻumaʻu crater, looking west | U.S. Geological Survey (usgs.gov)

Color photograph of webcams monitoring eruption — On September 11, 2023, HVO geologists deployed a new webcam to monitor the ongoing eruption at the summit of Kīlauea. The S2cam is a temporary webcam showing Kīlauea caldera downdropped block and Halemaʻumaʻu crater; the view is from the north rim of the downdropped block and looking west. USGS image by M. Patrick.

Color photograph of scientist monitoring eruption — Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist are in the field today, September 11, monitoring the new eruption within Kīlauea summit caldera that began yesterday afternoon. From the scarp of the downdropped block on its north side, the active fissures on the downdropped block and Halemaʻumaʻu crater are visible. With permission from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, scientists are installing a temporary webcam at this location to monitor the new eruptive activity. USGS image by J. Schmith.

Color photograph of erupting vent — 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.

Color photograph of instrument measuring gases from erupting lava — Hawaiian Volcano Observatory gas scientists used a FTIR spectrometer on the rim of Halema‘uma‘u crater during the evening of September 10, 2023. The FTIR measures the composition of the gases being emitted during Kīlauea Volcano's new summit eruption by measuring how the plume absorbs infrared energy. The plume being generated by the ongoing eruption is sulfur-dioxide (SO2) rich, but also contains water vapor, carbon dioxide, and halogen gases such as HCl and HF. USGS image by C. Sealing.

Color photograph eruption plume and rainbow — 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. The plume being generated by the ongoing eruption, visible in the right side of the image, is sulfur-dioxide (SO2) rich, but also contains water vapor, carbon dioxide, and halogen gases such as HCl and HF. USGS image by T. Nadeau.

Color photograph of erupting lava — 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. The lava fountain was measured as approximately 70 meters (230 feet) wide around when this photo was taken. USGS image by M. Patrick.

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