Images

Eruptive activity continues within Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea on April 15, 2022. Since the beginning of this eruption on September 29, 2021, the crater floor has seen a total rise of about 99 meters (325 feet).

A close-up view of lava spattering along the eastern side of the active lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea on April 15, 2022. USGS photo taken by J.M. Chang from the western rim of Halema‘uma‘u.

A view of the west vent cone complex within Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea, with two areas of orange glow visible. The photo was taken at 12:16 pm HST on April 15, 2022, from the western rim of Halema‘uma‘u. USGS photo by J.M. Chang.

A geologist examines a two-meter-thick (7 feet) tephra outcrop on the southeast flank of Mauna Loa. USGS photo by J.M. Chang.

Over several weeks in April, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists, along with visiting scientist from other volcano observatories, conducted ​the annual Kīlauea microgravity survey.

During a gravity survey, HVO scientists measure the relative strength of gravity (using a gravimeter, one of the small light-colored boxes in the center of the photo) between benchmarks.

HVO scientists took ​GPS measurements at multiple locations on the floor of Kīlauea caldera during the recent gravity survey. By comparing the measurements made at these benchmarks with survey data from previous dates, HVO scientists can ​correct for any uplift or subsidence when estimating the change of mass ​from their gravity measurements.

A continuous gravimeter in an enclosure designed by Hawaiian Volcano Observatory staff. USGS image. 

A campaign gravity measurement being made near Keanakākoʻi Crater, within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Kīlauea's summit eruption plume and Mauna Loa are visible in the background. USGS image. 

This reference map depicts the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption on April 8, 2022. One eruptive vent (orange) is active within Halema‘uma‘u, on the western side of the crater floor.

Recent changes in the Kīlauea summit eruption have seen the crusting-over of the lava pond near the western end of the Halema‘uma‘u crater floor. This view of the lava pond vicinity was captured through the lens of a laser rangefinder on April 6, 2022, from the western rim of the crater.

Unoccupied aircraft systems (UAS) flights on April 6, 2022, allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected of Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. The active lake surface is limited to the western portion of the crater.

Unoccupied aircraft systems (UAS) flights on April 6, 2022, allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected of Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. The active lake surface is limited to the western portion of the crater.

A Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continuous gravimeter station on Kīlauea Volcano. The continuous gravimeter is located within the weather-proof enclosure in the foreground of the photograph. Power systems for the gravimeter and continuous GPS are visible in the center of the photograph and consist of solar panels and batteries in weather-proof enclosures.

Keanakākoʻi Tephra from unit D in Kīlauea south caldera wall; the lower portion of the tephra deposit has been smoothed with a scraper tool, making the surface look different from the portion above.

This reference map depicts the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption on March 31, 2022. One eruptive vent (orange) is active within Halema‘uma‘u, on the western side of the crater floor.

Telephoto view, looking north, of the remnants of the west vent cone area within Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea on March 30, 2022. Lava is visible through a small opening near the top of the larger left remnant, indicating there is lava within. The western extent of the active lava lake area is visible in the center right of the image. USGS image by N.

Activity continues within Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea. In this telephoto view looking north, minor spattering is apparent on the eastern (left) margin of the active lava lake area.

This image, captured by a webcam on the northwest rim of Kīlauea caldera of March 29, 2022, shows spattering from a cone that has developed on the crater surface in the eastern part of Halema‘uma‘u.  The presence of these features demonstrates that molten material is present beneath the solidified surface of the crater floor. USGS image. 

Activity continues in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea. Today, spattering was present at the margin of the active lava lake, along with lava pouring from a small cone in the northeast portion of the crater floor. USGS image by M. Patrick.

A photograph taken during a helicopter overflight on the morning of March 29, 2022, shows an overview of Halema‘uma‘u looking northwest. The active lava lake is visible on the left, and a small lava flow east (right) of the main island is apparent in the center.