Images

The eruption on Kīlauea's Southwest Rift Zone remained paused on Tuesday, June 4, but Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists visited the area to take measurements of the previous day's lava flows. Here, a geologist examines part of the lava flow from fissure 2.

Lava fountains from the June 3, 2024 fissure eruption in Kīlauea's Southwest Rift Zone were estimated to have reached as high as 20 meters (66 feet), with an average height of 10 meters (33 feet). 

Scientists observed cracks in previous eruptive surfaces near the new fissure eruption southwest of Kīlauea's summit on June 3, 2024. These cracks ranged from a few centimeters (inches) to approximately 2 meters (6.6 feet) wide.

Frothy, glassy fragments of lava from the fountains of Kīlauea's June 3 eruption fissures were found scattered around newly-erupted lava flows. These tephra contain valuable geochemical information about the magma which fueled the eruption. USGS image by D. Downs. 

A new eruption began along Kīlauea's Southwest Rift Zone on June 3, 2024, and this map depicts activity on the eruption's first day. New lava flows are shown in red, only covering about 88 acres (36 hectares) of ground within relatively short distances of the eruptive fissures.

In this photo taken at about 6 a.m. HST on June 3, both lava fountains (left) and emissions of volcanic ash (right) are visible erupting from the new fissures in Kīlauea's Southwest Rift Zone. The ash is dark gray, while the remainder of the whitish plumes are composed of steam and other volcanic gases. USGS photo by Tricia Nadeau (HVO)

While observing the new fissure eruption in Kīlauea's Southwest Rift Zone, HVO scientists in the field were treated to views of rainbow terminating in the cloud of volcanic gases. USGS photo by Tricia Nadeau (HVO)

A field team of HVO geochemists visited the site of Kīlauea's Southwest Rift Zone fissure eruption to measure gases released from the fissures. The team used a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, an instrument that detects gas compositions on the basis of absorbed infrared light. USGS photo by Tricia Nadeau (HVO)

Photograph of a salt marsh with ponding in coastal Connecticut taken during estuarine research field work.

Salt marsh with ponding in coastal Connecticut, with the sun shining brightly overhead.

Salt marsh behind impoundment in coastal Connecticut, taken during estuarine research field work.

Salt marsh in coastal Connecticut. A USGS scientist surveys the marsh in the distance.

Photograph of a salt marsh with ponding in coastal Connecticut taken during estuarine research field work.

Salt marsh in coastal Massachusetts (Cape Cod), photographed during estuarine research field work.

Photograph of a salt marsh in coastal Massachusetts (Cape Cod) during USGS field work.

A salt marsh in coastal Massachusetts (Cape Cod) on an overcast yet warm day during USGS field research.

Salt marsh in coastal Massachusetts (Cape Cod) during USGS field work on estuarine ecosystems.

Mount St. Helens: Land of Transformation video shows the changes to the landscape from before the May 18, 1980 eruption to today (2024).

During the March 21, 2024 lahar evacuation drills, thousands of students walked to the Washington State Fairgrounds in Puyallup, Washington to practice evacuating from a lahar generated by Mount Rainier. A lahar, or volcanic mudflow, could reach this area in about 3 hours.

USGS installed an array of seismometers in a field in Gaziantep, Turkiye in order to record ambient noise and earthquakes, including the aftershocks of the devastating earthquakes of 2023. Robert Sickler of the USGS in the foreground and an AFAD employee in the background.

Screenshot from Lucy Jones' presentation called "Bridging the Gap from Communicating Risk to Reducing Risk." Presentation available on the USGS website.