Images

Kīlauea's eruption plume illuminated during the early morning hours of June 3, 2024, visible from the Volcano Golf Course area. USGS image by D.A. Phillips. 

The glow from the eruption of Kīlauea volcano, visible from Volcano House in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park during the early morning hours of June 3. Image courtesy of Volcano House. 

The glow from the eruption of Kīlauea volcano, visible from Volcano House in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park during the early morning hours of June 3. Image courtesy of Volcano House.

At approximately 3:15 a.m. HST, the eruption south of Kīlauea's summit remained active. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists captured this view on route to the eruption area. USGS image by N. Deligne. 

By approximately 3:30 a.m. HST on June 3, 2024, the glow from the eruption that started just hours prior at Kīlauea had significantly decreased. USGS image by D. Downs. 

During the early morning hours of June 3, 2024, the night sky was illuminated by the glow of new eruption south of Kīlauea summit caldera. In this image, taken with a prolonged exposure time, the Milky Way is also visible. USGS image by D.A. Phillips. 

This reference map depicts the approximate location of fissure vents that began erupting from Kīlauea Southwest Rift Zone at approximately 12:30 a.m. HST on June 3, 2024. The most recent eruption in this region was during December 1974, which lasted only about 6 hours. At this time, it is not possible to say how long the eruption will last. 

Aerial image of the Southwest Rift Zone eruption of Kīlauea, viewed during an overflight at approximately 6 a.m. on June 3, 2024. USGS image.

Aerial image of the Southwest Rift Zone eruption of Kīlauea, viewed during an overflight at approximately 6 a.m. on June 3, 2024. USGS image.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists visited the young lava flows formed within the past 9 hours on the upper Southwest Rift Zone of Kīlauea volcano. At the eruption site, geologists documented lava flow margins, collected samples, and deployed a new webcam to monitor the eruption. USGS image taken the morning of June 3, 2024. USGS image by N.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists visited the young lava flows formed within the past 9 hours on the upper Southwest Rift Zone of Kīlauea volcano. At the eruption site, geologists documented lava flow margins, collected samples, and deployed a new webcam to monitor the eruption. USGS image taken the morning of June 3, 2024.

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)

Around 6 a.m. HST on June 3, 2024, a helicopter overflight by USGS HVO scientists was observed by a field crew taking gas measurements of the new fissure eruption in Kīlauea's Southwest Rift Zone.  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)

Early morning glow of the eruption southwest of Kīlauea summit on June 3, 2024. This image was taken at 4:27 a.m. HST looking southeast toward the eruptive fissures. USGS image by H Winslow.

On June 3, 2024, HVO field crews collected cooled spatter from the then inactive vents of Kīlauea's Southwest Rift Zone eruption. Samples are processed in the laboratory to determine their chemistry, which helps HVO scientists understand where the magmas were stored prior to eruption. USGS photo by K. Lynn.