Lava flows from the 1984 eruption of Mauna Loa loom above the town of Hilo. Photograph taken near the Hilo airport on April 4.
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Hawaiian Volcano Observatory images of eruptive activity, field work, and more.
![Lava flows from the 1984 eruption of Mauna Loa loom above the town ...](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/vhp_img4995.jpg?itok=_wK6fSUc)
Lava flows from the 1984 eruption of Mauna Loa loom above the town of Hilo. Photograph taken near the Hilo airport on April 4.
Aa lava flows erupting from Mauna Loa.
Aa lava flows erupting from Mauna Loa.
![Lava fountains erupting from fissure on upper northeast rift zone o...](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/vhp_img4774.jpg?itok=SZjga83J)
Pohaku Hanalei cinder-spatter cone (upper left) is located about 3.2 km (2 mi) NE from the north edge of the caldera rim. Eruption rates were as high as 2.9 million m3 per hour during the first 6 hours of the eruption, then diminished to about 0.5 million m3 per hour for the next 12 days.
Pohaku Hanalei cinder-spatter cone (upper left) is located about 3.2 km (2 mi) NE from the north edge of the caldera rim. Eruption rates were as high as 2.9 million m3 per hour during the first 6 hours of the eruption, then diminished to about 0.5 million m3 per hour for the next 12 days.
![Red hot lava erupts vertically in the air from a cone of black, hardened lava](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/RIFT_014.jpg?itok=3V5WB6uM)
Low fountain, approximately 50 meters high, from Pu'u 'O'o on Hawai'i Island's Kilauea Volcano (viewed from the north). Lava issuing from the breach in the northeast rim of the crater produced an 'a'a flow that extended more than 4 kilometers. Eruption episode 8.
Low fountain, approximately 50 meters high, from Pu'u 'O'o on Hawai'i Island's Kilauea Volcano (viewed from the north). Lava issuing from the breach in the northeast rim of the crater produced an 'a'a flow that extended more than 4 kilometers. Eruption episode 8.
Pu'u 'O'o fountain approximately 100 meters high during eruption episode 8 on Hawai'i Island's Kilauea Volcano. Dark clots of spatter land near the base of the fountain, contributing to the growth of the cone. Less dense cinder, visible in the upper right, is carried downwind of the cone.
Pu'u 'O'o fountain approximately 100 meters high during eruption episode 8 on Hawai'i Island's Kilauea Volcano. Dark clots of spatter land near the base of the fountain, contributing to the growth of the cone. Less dense cinder, visible in the upper right, is carried downwind of the cone.
Accretionary lava ball comes to rest on the grass after rolling off the top of an 'a'a flow in Royal Gardens subdivision on Hawai'i Island's Kilauea Volcano. Accretionary lava balls form as viscous lava is molded around a core of already-soldified lava.
Accretionary lava ball comes to rest on the grass after rolling off the top of an 'a'a flow in Royal Gardens subdivision on Hawai'i Island's Kilauea Volcano. Accretionary lava balls form as viscous lava is molded around a core of already-soldified lava.
![Flat-topped cinder cone with red-hot lava splattering out of the top and cascading down the sides.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/RIFT_007.jpg?itok=5kovSeXI)
View at dusk of the young Pu'u 'O'o cinder-and-spatter cone, with fountain 40 meters high, on Hawai'i Island's Kilauea Volcano (episode 5).
View at dusk of the young Pu'u 'O'o cinder-and-spatter cone, with fountain 40 meters high, on Hawai'i Island's Kilauea Volcano (episode 5).
Arching fountain of lava approximately 10 meters high issuing from the western end of the 0740 vents, a series of spatter cones 170 meters long, south of Pu'u Kahaualea on Hawai'i Island's Kilauea Volcano (episode 2). Episodes 2 and 3 were characterized by spatter and cinder cones, such as Pu'u Halulu, which was 60 meters high by episode 3.
Arching fountain of lava approximately 10 meters high issuing from the western end of the 0740 vents, a series of spatter cones 170 meters long, south of Pu'u Kahaualea on Hawai'i Island's Kilauea Volcano (episode 2). Episodes 2 and 3 were characterized by spatter and cinder cones, such as Pu'u Halulu, which was 60 meters high by episode 3.
Forest of lava trees resulting from eruption of a 1-km-line of vents east of Pu'u Kahaulea on Hawai'i Island's Kilauea Volcano. The bulbous top of each lava tree marks the high stand of the lava flow as it spread through the trees.
Forest of lava trees resulting from eruption of a 1-km-line of vents east of Pu'u Kahaulea on Hawai'i Island's Kilauea Volcano. The bulbous top of each lava tree marks the high stand of the lava flow as it spread through the trees.
![Lava fountains erupting from fissures, Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i...](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/vhp_img3018.jpg?itok=iWQqR0cv)
Lava fountains erupt from fissures during the first week of the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō eruption south of Pu‘u Kahaualea, approximately 2.4 km (1.5 miles) northeast of where subsequent eruptions built the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō cone. The early fissures cut through old forested lava flows in a remote section of Kīlauea's east rift zone.
Lava fountains erupt from fissures during the first week of the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō eruption south of Pu‘u Kahaualea, approximately 2.4 km (1.5 miles) northeast of where subsequent eruptions built the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō cone. The early fissures cut through old forested lava flows in a remote section of Kīlauea's east rift zone.
Left: Horseshoe-shaped crater of Mount St. Helens in 1980, formed by a landslide that removed the top of the volcano. The crater is about 2 km (1.2 mi) wide and the floor is about 600 m (1,970 ft) below the crater rim. Right: Halema‘uma‘u nestled in the summit crater of Kīlauea Volcano on August 1, the day before the last collapse event.
Left: Horseshoe-shaped crater of Mount St. Helens in 1980, formed by a landslide that removed the top of the volcano. The crater is about 2 km (1.2 mi) wide and the floor is about 600 m (1,970 ft) below the crater rim. Right: Halema‘uma‘u nestled in the summit crater of Kīlauea Volcano on August 1, the day before the last collapse event.
Measuring tilt in Timberline parking lot in early April 1980 during lightly falling snow.
Measuring tilt in Timberline parking lot in early April 1980 during lightly falling snow.
![Aerial photograph of the Pāhala area, on the southern side of the Island of Hawaiʻi, taken on December 11, 1976](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/VolcanoWatch_20210325-Figure.jpg?itok=8fqOUvu2)
(Left) Aerial photograph of the Pāhala area, on the southern side of the Island of Hawaiʻi, taken on December 11, 1976. (Right) The backside of the same photo showing labeled field locations, marked with a pinhole through the photograph, which correspond to the geologist’s field notes.
(Left) Aerial photograph of the Pāhala area, on the southern side of the Island of Hawaiʻi, taken on December 11, 1976. (Right) The backside of the same photo showing labeled field locations, marked with a pinhole through the photograph, which correspond to the geologist’s field notes.
![Submerged coconut grove at Halapē after 1975 earthquake, Kīlauea Vo...](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/vhp_img4748.jpg?itok=pIhuP6AR)
A M 7.7 earthquake on November 29, 1975, was located beneath the south flank of Kīlauea.
A M 7.7 earthquake on November 29, 1975, was located beneath the south flank of Kīlauea.
![Earthquake-damaged road, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Kīlauea V...](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/vhp_img4749.jpg?itok=Qr_6HVx9)
Ground cracks along Crater Rim Drive in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park caused by the M 7.7 earthquake on November 25, 1975. The cracks resulted from slumping of the ground toward the rim of Kīlauea Crater, the edge of which is left of the guardrails.
Ground cracks along Crater Rim Drive in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park caused by the M 7.7 earthquake on November 25, 1975. The cracks resulted from slumping of the ground toward the rim of Kīlauea Crater, the edge of which is left of the guardrails.
![Mauna Loa 1975 eruption. Lava fountains up to 20 m (65 ft) high eru...](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/vhp_img4266.jpg?itok=pc1Ht_3I)
Mauna Loa 1975 eruption. Lava fountains up to 20 m (65 ft) high erupted from fissures on the north flank of the volcano early Sunday morning, July 6, 1975.
Mauna Loa 1975 eruption. Lava fountains up to 20 m (65 ft) high erupted from fissures on the north flank of the volcano early Sunday morning, July 6, 1975.
![Color photograph of volcanic eruption](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/Picture1_40.jpg?itok=9Wf3s54H)
Photograph of the December 31, 1974, eruption from the Southwest Rift Zone of Kīlauea. This early morning photo shows the lava fountains feeding the eruption and throwing lava bombs to 115–130 feet (35–40 meters) high. This eruption was very brief, lasting from 2:56 a.m. to around 8:50 a.m. USGS photo by Robin Holcomb.
Photograph of the December 31, 1974, eruption from the Southwest Rift Zone of Kīlauea. This early morning photo shows the lava fountains feeding the eruption and throwing lava bombs to 115–130 feet (35–40 meters) high. This eruption was very brief, lasting from 2:56 a.m. to around 8:50 a.m. USGS photo by Robin Holcomb.
![Kīlauea's 1971 Southwest Rift Zone Eruption: A First in 52 Years...](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/vhp_img2881.jpg?itok=REiBuvcA)
As erupting fissures migrated down Kīlauea's southwest rift zone in September 1971 for the first time in 52 years, many spectators hiked into the Ka‘ū Desert for a closer view of the rare event. Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park rangers patrolled the area on horseback to keep people a safe distance from the lava fountains. Photo courtesy of NPS.
As erupting fissures migrated down Kīlauea's southwest rift zone in September 1971 for the first time in 52 years, many spectators hiked into the Ka‘ū Desert for a closer view of the rare event. Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park rangers patrolled the area on horseback to keep people a safe distance from the lava fountains. Photo courtesy of NPS.
![South flank of Kīlauea Volcano consists of several large scarps for...](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/vhp_img4796.jpg?itok=aWSI62C-)
Seaward sliding of Kīlauea's south flank over many thousands of years has resulted in large ground displacements along shallow faults that break the surface, as shown by the cliffs ("pali" in Hawaiian) seen here. Most of the movement along the faults occur during sudden slip that cause large earthquakes.
Seaward sliding of Kīlauea's south flank over many thousands of years has resulted in large ground displacements along shallow faults that break the surface, as shown by the cliffs ("pali" in Hawaiian) seen here. Most of the movement along the faults occur during sudden slip that cause large earthquakes.
Over the past several days, the lava surface within the vent in Halema'uma'u has occasionally, and temporarily, reached to within about 115 m (375 ft) below the floor of Halema'uma'u Crater, as seen in this photo. During these high-lava stands, the gas plume is generally fairly wispy, providing the rare naked-eye view of the lava surface.
Over the past several days, the lava surface within the vent in Halema'uma'u has occasionally, and temporarily, reached to within about 115 m (375 ft) below the floor of Halema'uma'u Crater, as seen in this photo. During these high-lava stands, the gas plume is generally fairly wispy, providing the rare naked-eye view of the lava surface.
A wide shot of the coastal plain showing the Puhi-o-Kalaikini ocean entry in the foreground, producing a medium size steam plume. Fuming areas on the hillside mark the trace of the current lava tube, which confines the lava until it ultimately reaches the ocean. The road that abruptly ends is Highway 130, which currently hosts the County viewing area.
A wide shot of the coastal plain showing the Puhi-o-Kalaikini ocean entry in the foreground, producing a medium size steam plume. Fuming areas on the hillside mark the trace of the current lava tube, which confines the lava until it ultimately reaches the ocean. The road that abruptly ends is Highway 130, which currently hosts the County viewing area.