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Volcano Hazard Program images.

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Swath bathymetric image of the Elliott’s Crater explosion crater in Yellowstone Lake
Swath bathymetric image of the Elliott’s Crater explosion crater
Swath bathymetric image of the Elliott’s Crater explosion crater
Swath bathymetric image of the Elliott’s Crater explosion crater

Swath bathymetric image of the Elliott’s Crater explosion crater in Yellowstone Lake.  Inset shows location of the crater and the swath image (red box) within the northern part of the lake.

Swath bathymetric image of the Elliott’s Crater explosion crater in Yellowstone Lake.  Inset shows location of the crater and the swath image (red box) within the northern part of the lake.

Scanning electron microscope image of Yellowstone drill core
Scanning electron microscope image of Yellowstone drill core
Scanning electron microscope image of Yellowstone drill core
Scanning electron microscope image of Yellowstone drill core

The right side of the figure is an image of a small piece of the Y-9 core from the USGS 1967-68 drilling expedition to Yellowstone National Park. The black area was analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) at the University of Wyoming to determine mineralogy and dispersion of elements.

The right side of the figure is an image of a small piece of the Y-9 core from the USGS 1967-68 drilling expedition to Yellowstone National Park. The black area was analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) at the University of Wyoming to determine mineralogy and dispersion of elements.

Research drilling in Yellowstone National Park
Research drilling in Yellowstone National Park
Research drilling in Yellowstone National Park
Research drilling in Yellowstone National Park

Research drilling in Yellowstone National Park.  (A) is an image from Fenner (1936) of the drilling setup in the Upper Geyser Basin during the 1929 field season. (B) is an image from White et al. (1975) of the USGS drill rig set up in the Norris Geyser Basin in 1967-68 during a steam eruption.

Research drilling in Yellowstone National Park.  (A) is an image from Fenner (1936) of the drilling setup in the Upper Geyser Basin during the 1929 field season. (B) is an image from White et al. (1975) of the USGS drill rig set up in the Norris Geyser Basin in 1967-68 during a steam eruption.

Color photograph of instrument and mountain
How measuring gravity on Mauna Kea helps us monitor Mauna Loa
How measuring gravity on Mauna Kea helps us monitor Mauna Loa
How measuring gravity on Mauna Kea helps us monitor Mauna Loa

A gravimeter measuring the force of gravity on Mauna Kea. These measurements are used to calibrate the instruments so they can precisely monitor changes in gravity from magma accumulation at Mauna Loa (background). USGS photograph taken on December 10, 2020.

A gravimeter measuring the force of gravity on Mauna Kea. These measurements are used to calibrate the instruments so they can precisely monitor changes in gravity from magma accumulation at Mauna Loa (background). USGS photograph taken on December 10, 2020.

Earthquake rates over time for Yellowstone Lake 2008-2009 and 2020 seismic swarms
Seismicity rates for Yellowstone Lake earthquake swarms
Seismicity rates for Yellowstone Lake earthquake swarms
Seismicity rates for Yellowstone Lake earthquake swarms

Rate of earthquake occurrence for the 2008-2009 Yellowstone Lake swarm (green) and 2020 swarm (red).

Rate of earthquake occurrence for the 2008-2009 Yellowstone Lake swarm (green) and 2020 swarm (red).

Map of Yellowstone Lake seismic swarms in 2008-2009 and 2020
Map of Yellowstone Lake seismic swarms in 2008-2009 and 2020
Map of Yellowstone Lake seismic swarms in 2008-2009 and 2020
Map of Yellowstone Lake seismic swarms in 2008-2009 and 2020

Map of earthquakes that occurred beneath Yellowstone Lake as parts of seismic swarms in 2008-2009 (green) and 2020 (red).  Orange line is the boundary of Yellowstone Caldera, which formed 631,000 years ago.

Map of earthquakes that occurred beneath Yellowstone Lake as parts of seismic swarms in 2008-2009 (green) and 2020 (red).  Orange line is the boundary of Yellowstone Caldera, which formed 631,000 years ago.

Color photograph of volcanic crater lake
KWcam webcam image from December 2 at 6:00 p.m. HST
KWcam webcam image from December 2 at 6:00 p.m. HST
KWcam webcam image from December 2 at 6:00 p.m. HST

KWcam webcam image from December 2 at 6:00 p.m. HST, immediately following a M3.1 earthquake at Kīlauea summit. Several rockfalls down the talus slope impacted the summit water lake, causing some brief localized color changes of the lake surface (circled in yellow).

KWcam webcam image from December 2 at 6:00 p.m. HST, immediately following a M3.1 earthquake at Kīlauea summit. Several rockfalls down the talus slope impacted the summit water lake, causing some brief localized color changes of the lake surface (circled in yellow).

Animated GIF showing rockfall into crater lake
KWcam webcam animated GIF December 2, 2020
KWcam webcam animated GIF December 2, 2020
KWcam webcam animated GIF December 2, 2020

ANIMATED GIF: At Kīlauea summit, the KWcam webcam recorded several small color changes along the lake margin following rockfalls which impacted the lake surface. These rockfalls immediately followed a M3.1 earthquake Wednesday evening, December 2, at 5:59 p.m. HST. This animated image file (GIF) continuously loops two consecutive webcam images from 5:50 p.m.

ANIMATED GIF: At Kīlauea summit, the KWcam webcam recorded several small color changes along the lake margin following rockfalls which impacted the lake surface. These rockfalls immediately followed a M3.1 earthquake Wednesday evening, December 2, at 5:59 p.m. HST. This animated image file (GIF) continuously loops two consecutive webcam images from 5:50 p.m.

Color photograph of moon over rift zone
moon setting over Mauna Loa's broad Northeast Rift Zone
moon setting over Mauna Loa's broad Northeast Rift Zone
moon setting over Mauna Loa's broad Northeast Rift Zone

This photo was taken from the west rim of Kīlauea caldera at dawn, and shows the moon setting over Mauna Loa's broad Northeast Rift Zone. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

This photo was taken from the west rim of Kīlauea caldera at dawn, and shows the moon setting over Mauna Loa's broad Northeast Rift Zone. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Color photograph of tephra
Tephra layers preserved at the summit of Kīlauea
Tephra layers preserved at the summit of Kīlauea
Tephra layers preserved at the summit of Kīlauea

Tephra layers preserved at the summit of Kīlauea from at least three different eruptions. Deposits below the top of the scale are predominantly juvenile and deposits above it containing many lithics. Notice the larger size of the yellow pumice clasts compared to the much denser and finer grey lapilli and ash surrounding them from 7 to 18 on the scale.

Tephra layers preserved at the summit of Kīlauea from at least three different eruptions. Deposits below the top of the scale are predominantly juvenile and deposits above it containing many lithics. Notice the larger size of the yellow pumice clasts compared to the much denser and finer grey lapilli and ash surrounding them from 7 to 18 on the scale.

Map of southeastern Idaho showing volcanic rocks related to the Yellowstone hotspot.
Volcanic rocks in SE Idaho that are related to the Yellowstone hotspot
Volcanic rocks in SE Idaho that are related to the Yellowstone hotspot
Volcanic rocks in SE Idaho that are related to the Yellowstone hotspot

Map of southeastern Idaho showing volcanic rocks related to the Yellowstone hotspot. Basalt is shown in red and rhyolite in yellow. Blue circles indicate the location of past Yellowstone calderas; caldera names and approximate ages are shown (Ma = million years old).

Map of southeastern Idaho showing volcanic rocks related to the Yellowstone hotspot. Basalt is shown in red and rhyolite in yellow. Blue circles indicate the location of past Yellowstone calderas; caldera names and approximate ages are shown (Ma = million years old).

Lidar hillshade map of part of the Blackfoot Volcanic Field
Lidar hillshade map of part of the Blackfoot Volcanic Field
Lidar hillshade map of part of the Blackfoot Volcanic Field
Lidar hillshade map of part of the Blackfoot Volcanic Field

Lidar hillshade map of part of the Blackfoot Volcanic Field, showing rhyolite domes and fault scarps.

Lidar hillshade map of part of the Blackfoot Volcanic Field, showing rhyolite domes and fault scarps.

Temperature records from sites on Yellowstone Lake bottom
Temperature records from sites on Yellowstone Lake bottom
Temperature records from sites on Yellowstone Lake bottom
Temperature records from sites on Yellowstone Lake bottom

Year-long (August 2017 to August 2018) temperature records from two hydrothermal vents (“A” and “B”) in the Deep Hole area of Yellowstone Lake.

Year-long (August 2017 to August 2018) temperature records from two hydrothermal vents (“A” and “B”) in the Deep Hole area of Yellowstone Lake.

Color photograph of volcanic crater lake
Lake at Kīlauea's summit
Lake at Kīlauea's summit
Lake at Kīlauea's summit

Dark brown colors dominated the central and western portions of the lake at Kīlauea's summit. The greenish hues were present in areas that appear to be zone of hot water influx into the lake. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Dark brown colors dominated the central and western portions of the lake at Kīlauea's summit. The greenish hues were present in areas that appear to be zone of hot water influx into the lake. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Color photograph of volcanic crater lake
Kīlauea's summit lake between rain showers
Kīlauea's summit lake between rain showers
Kīlauea's summit lake between rain showers

A quick visit to the western caldera rim provided brief views of Kīlauea's summit lake between rain showers. The lake colors were particularly vibrant today, with a deep blue-green color in the western end (bottom of photo), with dark brown near the center. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

A quick visit to the western caldera rim provided brief views of Kīlauea's summit lake between rain showers. The lake colors were particularly vibrant today, with a deep blue-green color in the western end (bottom of photo), with dark brown near the center. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Yellowstone seismic network
Yellowstone seismic network
Yellowstone seismic network
Yellowstone seismic network

Map of seismic stations in the Yellowstone region, with numbers of channels indicated by number and sensor type by color.  Inverted triangles indicate stations operated by University of Utah Seismograph Stations (UUSS), and squares indicate stations operated by other agencies.

Map of seismic stations in the Yellowstone region, with numbers of channels indicated by number and sensor type by color.  Inverted triangles indicate stations operated by University of Utah Seismograph Stations (UUSS), and squares indicate stations operated by other agencies.

View looking southwest along the Southwest Rift Zone of Kīlauea Volcano.
Upper Southwest Rift Zone of Kīlauea Volcano—October 22, 2020
Upper Southwest Rift Zone of Kīlauea Volcano—October 22, 2020
Upper Southwest Rift Zone of Kīlauea Volcano—October 22, 2020

View looking southwest along the Southwest Rift Zone of Kīlauea Volcano. The unvegetated nature of the Southwest Rift Zone is on full display with the Keanakākoʻi Tephra in the foreground overlying lava flows from Cone Peak (the cone in the middle ground to the right).

View looking southwest along the Southwest Rift Zone of Kīlauea Volcano. The unvegetated nature of the Southwest Rift Zone is on full display with the Keanakākoʻi Tephra in the foreground overlying lava flows from Cone Peak (the cone in the middle ground to the right).

Color graphic of geologic map
Map of Waiʻōhinu area, Island of Hawaiʻi
Map of Waiʻōhinu area, Island of Hawaiʻi
Map of Waiʻōhinu area, Island of Hawaiʻi

Map of Waiʻōhinu area, Island of Hawaiʻi, showing the location of the 3,740 year old age.

Map of Waiʻōhinu area, Island of Hawaiʻi, showing the location of the 3,740 year old age.

Old Faithful bathhouse during 1914-1933 (top) and 1934-1951 (bottom)
Old Faithful bathhouse during 1914-1933 (top) and 1934-1951 (bottom)
Old Faithful bathhouse during 1914-1933 (top) and 1934-1951 (bottom)
Old Faithful bathhouse during 1914-1933 (top) and 1934-1951 (bottom)

Old Faithful bathhouse as it appeared in 1914-1933 (top) and 1934-1951 (bottom).

Yellowstone map with rhyolite eruptions highlighted
Yellowstone map with rhyolite eruptions highlighted
Yellowstone map with rhyolite eruptions highlighted
Yellowstone map with rhyolite eruptions highlighted

Map of Yellowstone National Park adapted from Christiansen and others (2007). The pink regions are rhyolite flows erupted within Yellowstone caldera; these flows contain 5% to 15% crystals by volume. The purple region is the Obsidian Cliff flow, which contains close to 0% crystals.

Map of Yellowstone National Park adapted from Christiansen and others (2007). The pink regions are rhyolite flows erupted within Yellowstone caldera; these flows contain 5% to 15% crystals by volume. The purple region is the Obsidian Cliff flow, which contains close to 0% crystals.

Obsidian Cliff lava flow, Yellowstone
Obsidian Cliff lava flow, Yellowstone
Obsidian Cliff lava flow, Yellowstone
Obsidian Cliff lava flow, Yellowstone

Photograph of Obsidian Cliff along Grand Loop Road between Norris and Mammoth Hot Springs. Photograph by John Good, U.S. National Park Service, 1965.

Photograph of Obsidian Cliff along Grand Loop Road between Norris and Mammoth Hot Springs. Photograph by John Good, U.S. National Park Service, 1965.