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Hawaiian Volcano Observatory images of eruptive activity, field work, and more.

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Color photograph of volcano-monitoring station
HVO permanent, continuously operating GNSS site
HVO permanent, continuously operating GNSS site
HVO permanent, continuously operating GNSS site

HVO permanent, continuously operating GNSS site in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park co-located with seismic instrumentation. USGS photo by K. Kamibayashi.

HVO permanent, continuously operating GNSS site in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park co-located with seismic instrumentation. USGS photo by K. Kamibayashi.

Color photograph of volcano slopes
August 22, 2022 — View of the summit region of Ta‘ū island
August 22, 2022 — View of the summit region of Ta‘ū island
August 22, 2022 — View of the summit region of Ta‘ū island

A view of the summit region of Ta‘ū island, in the Manu‘a island group of American Samoa. Ta‘ū island is the exposed top of a volcano that formed as a result of volcanic activity at the Samoa hotspot. Most of the volcano is under the ocean surface.

A view of the summit region of Ta‘ū island, in the Manu‘a island group of American Samoa. Ta‘ū island is the exposed top of a volcano that formed as a result of volcanic activity at the Samoa hotspot. Most of the volcano is under the ocean surface.

Color photograph of crater floor and lava lake
August 24, 2022 — Overview of Halema‘uma‘u eruption, Kīlauea volcano
August 24, 2022 — Overview of Halema‘uma‘u eruption, Kīlauea volcano
August 24, 2022 — Overview of Halema‘uma‘u eruption, Kīlauea volcano

This overview photograph of the Halema‘uma‘u eruption at the summit of Kīlauea was captured by a HVO geologist in the morning of August 24, 2022, from the webcam site on the west rim of the crater.

This overview photograph of the Halema‘uma‘u eruption at the summit of Kīlauea was captured by a HVO geologist in the morning of August 24, 2022, from the webcam site on the west rim of the crater.

Color photograph of people installing field instrument
August 23, 2022 — Installing a seismometer on Ta‘ū island
August 23, 2022 — Installing a seismometer on Ta‘ū island
August 23, 2022 — Installing a seismometer on Ta‘ū island

A broadband seismometer being installed on Ta‘ū island near Fiti‘uta on August 23, 2022, by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, NOAA National Weather Service, and with help from the American Samoan government and local residents of Ta‘ū island.

A broadband seismometer being installed on Ta‘ū island near Fiti‘uta on August 23, 2022, by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, NOAA National Weather Service, and with help from the American Samoan government and local residents of Ta‘ū island.

Color photograph of scientists installing instrument
August 22, 2022 — USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist setting up a seismometer on Ta‘ū Island
August 22, 2022 — USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist setting up a seismometer on Ta‘ū Island
August 22, 2022 — USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist setting up a seismometer on Ta‘ū Island

A broadband seismometer was installed on Ta‘ū island on August 22, 2022, by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and NOAA National Weather Service team. This is one of two broadband seismometers that have been placed on Ta‘ū island to help detect earthquakes that started to be felt in the region starting in late July. USGS photo by D. Downs.

A broadband seismometer was installed on Ta‘ū island on August 22, 2022, by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and NOAA National Weather Service team. This is one of two broadband seismometers that have been placed on Ta‘ū island to help detect earthquakes that started to be felt in the region starting in late July. USGS photo by D. Downs.

Color photograph of ocean and island in distance
August 20, 2022 — View of Faleāsao tuff cone on Ta‘ū Island and Ofu-Olosega island in the distance
August 20, 2022 — View of Faleāsao tuff cone on Ta‘ū Island and Ofu-Olosega island in the distance
August 20, 2022 — View of Faleāsao tuff cone on Ta‘ū Island and Ofu-Olosega island in the distance

An afternoon view of the tuff cone near Faleāsao village located in northwest Ta‘ū island, with the islands of Ofu and Olosega visible in the distance. This tuff cone, which is thousands of years old, formed when hot magma interacted with either shallow groundwater or sea water. There are several tuff cones located within the northwest corner of Ta‘ū island.

An afternoon view of the tuff cone near Faleāsao village located in northwest Ta‘ū island, with the islands of Ofu and Olosega visible in the distance. This tuff cone, which is thousands of years old, formed when hot magma interacted with either shallow groundwater or sea water. There are several tuff cones located within the northwest corner of Ta‘ū island.

Color photograph of earthquake monitoring device
August 19, 2022 — Microseismometer installed in the Manu‘a islands of American Samoa
August 19, 2022 — Microseismometer installed in the Manu‘a islands of American Samoa
August 19, 2022 — Microseismometer installed in the Manu‘a islands of American Samoa

A Raspberry Shake microseismometer was installed on Ta‘ū island, American Samoa, on August 19, 2022, by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and NOAA National Weather Service team. This is one of several microseismometers that have been placed within the Manu‘a islands to help detect earthquakes in the region that started to be felt in late July. USGS photo by D.

A Raspberry Shake microseismometer was installed on Ta‘ū island, American Samoa, on August 19, 2022, by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and NOAA National Weather Service team. This is one of several microseismometers that have been placed within the Manu‘a islands to help detect earthquakes in the region that started to be felt in late July. USGS photo by D.

Color map of eruption at summit of volcano
August 18, 2022—Kīlauea summit eruption reference map
August 18, 2022—Kīlauea summit eruption reference map
August 18, 2022—Kīlauea summit eruption reference map

This reference map depicts the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption on August 18, 2022. One eruptive vent (orange) is active within Halema‘uma‘u, on the western side of the crater floor. An adjacent pond (purple) is feeding lava to a larger lake (red) via a crusted-over tube.

This reference map depicts the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption on August 18, 2022. One eruptive vent (orange) is active within Halema‘uma‘u, on the western side of the crater floor. An adjacent pond (purple) is feeding lava to a larger lake (red) via a crusted-over tube.

Color photograph of lava lake
Lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea
Lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea
Lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea

Image of the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. Lava enters the lake at the west end (bottom of image) and flow steadily towards the east end, where the crust is consumed along the lake margins. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Image of the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea. Lava enters the lake at the west end (bottom of image) and flow steadily towards the east end, where the crust is consumed along the lake margins. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Color reference map
Reference map of the volcanic islands of American Samoa
Reference map of the volcanic islands of American Samoa
Reference map of the volcanic islands of American Samoa

This reference map depicts the volcanic islands of American Samoa, and specifically the Manu‘a Islands of Ofu, Olosega, and Ta‘ū. In recent days and weeks, residents of the islands have been feeling moderate earthquakes, and the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has deployed several staff members to American Samoa to help monitor the unrest.

This reference map depicts the volcanic islands of American Samoa, and specifically the Manu‘a Islands of Ofu, Olosega, and Ta‘ū. In recent days and weeks, residents of the islands have been feeling moderate earthquakes, and the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has deployed several staff members to American Samoa to help monitor the unrest.

Color map of lava lake temperature
August 16, 2022—Kīlauea summit thermal map
August 16, 2022—Kīlauea summit thermal map
August 16, 2022—Kīlauea summit thermal map

A helicopter overflight on August 16, 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 helicopter overflight on August 16, 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.

Color map of lava lake temperature
August 16, 2022—Kīlauea summit thermal map
August 16, 2022—Kīlauea summit thermal map
August 16, 2022—Kīlauea summit thermal map

A helicopter overflight on August 16, 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 helicopter overflight on August 16, 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.

Color photograph of sea cliff
Nuʻutele Island: A tuff cone of Ofu-Olosega volcano, American Samoa
Nuʻutele Island: A tuff cone of Ofu-Olosega volcano, American Samoa
Nuʻutele Island: A tuff cone of Ofu-Olosega volcano, American Samoa

View of south part of western side of Nuʻutele Island, off the west coast of Ofu Island in the Manuʻa Islands, American Samoa. Nuʻutele Island is an eroded tuff cone of Ofu-Olosega volcano. A tuff cone can form when magma and water interact at shallow depths, causing localized explosions.

View of south part of western side of Nuʻutele Island, off the west coast of Ofu Island in the Manuʻa Islands, American Samoa. Nuʻutele Island is an eroded tuff cone of Ofu-Olosega volcano. A tuff cone can form when magma and water interact at shallow depths, causing localized explosions.

Color photograph of sea cliff
Part of tuff cone of Faleasao Harbor, Taʻū Island, American Samoa
Part of tuff cone of Faleasao Harbor, Taʻū Island, American Samoa
Part of tuff cone of Faleasao Harbor, Taʻū Island, American Samoa

View of part of the tuff cone which contains both Faleāsao village and Faleasao Harbor from the northwest part of Taʻū Island, American Samoa. A tuff cone can form when magma and water interact at shallow depths, causing localized explosions.

View of part of the tuff cone which contains both Faleāsao village and Faleasao Harbor from the northwest part of Taʻū Island, American Samoa. A tuff cone can form when magma and water interact at shallow depths, causing localized explosions.

color photograph of scientist installing instrument
National Weather Service electronics technician installs Fitiuta Raspberry Shake, Taʻū Island
National Weather Service electronics technician installs Fitiuta Raspberry Shake, Taʻū Island
National Weather Service electronics technician installs Fitiuta Raspberry Shake, Taʻū Island

A Raspberry Shake seismometer was installed at Fitiʻuta Elementary School on Taʻū Island on August 13, 2022, to provide initial data on the swarm of earthquakes that started on the Manuʻa Islands around July 26, 2022.

A Raspberry Shake seismometer was installed at Fitiʻuta Elementary School on Taʻū Island on August 13, 2022, to provide initial data on the swarm of earthquakes that started on the Manuʻa Islands around July 26, 2022.

Color photograph of monitoring equipment
Raspberry Shake seismometer installed in Fitiʻuta Elementary School, Taʻū Island
Raspberry Shake seismometer installed in Fitiʻuta Elementary School, Taʻū Island
Raspberry Shake seismometer installed in Fitiʻuta Elementary School, Taʻū Island

A Raspberry Shake seismometer was installed at Fitiʻuta Elementary School on Taʻū Island on August 13, 2022, to provide initial data on the swarm of earthquakes that started on the Manuʻa Islands around July 26, 2022.

A Raspberry Shake seismometer was installed at Fitiʻuta Elementary School on Taʻū Island on August 13, 2022, to provide initial data on the swarm of earthquakes that started on the Manuʻa Islands around July 26, 2022.

Plots of volcano-monitoring data
Plots showing Mauna Loa ground deformation and earthquake monitoring data between midnight August 1 and midnight August 3, 2022.
Plots showing Mauna Loa ground deformation and earthquake monitoring data between midnight August 1 and midnight August 3, 2022.
Plots showing Mauna Loa ground deformation and earthquake monitoring data between midnight August 1 and midnight August 3, 2022.

Plots showing Mauna Loa ground deformation and earthquake monitoring data between midnight August 1 and midnight August 3, 2022. The top panel shows ground tilt in microradians at station MOK, on the northwest side of Mauna Loa’s summit caldera. A histogram showing the number of located earthquakes that occurred per hour is shown in the middle panel.

Plots showing Mauna Loa ground deformation and earthquake monitoring data between midnight August 1 and midnight August 3, 2022. The top panel shows ground tilt in microradians at station MOK, on the northwest side of Mauna Loa’s summit caldera. A histogram showing the number of located earthquakes that occurred per hour is shown in the middle panel.

Color map showing earthquake locations
Map showing located earthquakes below Mauna Loa summit region between midnight August 1 and midnight August 3, 2022
Map showing located earthquakes below Mauna Loa summit region between midnight August 1 and midnight August 3, 2022
Map showing located earthquakes below Mauna Loa summit region between midnight August 1 and midnight August 3, 2022

Map showing located earthquakes below Mauna Loa summit region between midnight August 1 and midnight August 3, 2022. Orange earthquakes are below sea level whereas red earthquakes are above sea level; earthquakes are sized by magnitude.  

Map showing located earthquakes below Mauna Loa summit region between midnight August 1 and midnight August 3, 2022. Orange earthquakes are below sea level whereas red earthquakes are above sea level; earthquakes are sized by magnitude.  

Color map of eruption at summit of volcano
August 8, 2022—Kīlauea summit eruption reference map
August 8, 2022—Kīlauea summit eruption reference map
August 8, 2022—Kīlauea summit eruption reference map

This reference map depicts the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption on August 8, 2022. One eruptive vent (orange) is active within Halema‘uma‘u, on the western side of the crater floor. An adjacent pond (purple) is feeding lava to a larger lake (red) via a crusted-over tube.

This reference map depicts the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption on August 8, 2022. One eruptive vent (orange) is active within Halema‘uma‘u, on the western side of the crater floor. An adjacent pond (purple) is feeding lava to a larger lake (red) via a crusted-over tube.

Webcam image of caldera
KWcam image taken on August 5, 2022, just after 9:30 a.m. HST
KWcam image taken on August 5, 2022, just after 9:30 a.m. HST
KWcam image taken on August 5, 2022, just after 9:30 a.m. HST

KWcam image taken on August 5, 2022, just after 9:30 a.m. HST. This image shows the ongoing eruption within Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea. The eruption began the afternoon of September 29, 2021, as fissures in the floor of the crater; this activity is generating a lava lake that is slowly filling the crater.

KWcam image taken on August 5, 2022, just after 9:30 a.m. HST. This image shows the ongoing eruption within Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea. The eruption began the afternoon of September 29, 2021, as fissures in the floor of the crater; this activity is generating a lava lake that is slowly filling the crater.

Color image of island
Annotated Sentinel-1 interferogram of Island of Hawai‘i spanning June 7 to July 13, 2022
Annotated Sentinel-1 interferogram of Island of Hawai‘i spanning June 7 to July 13, 2022
Annotated Sentinel-1 interferogram of Island of Hawai‘i spanning June 7 to July 13, 2022

Recent Sentinel-1 interferogram for the period from June 7 to July 13, 2022 covering the Island of Hawai‘i. Each color fringe represents 2.83 centimeters (1.11 inches) of ground displacement. There is evidence for a few millimeters of inflation at Mauna Loa, and no noteworthy deformation at Kīlauea during this time span.

Recent Sentinel-1 interferogram for the period from June 7 to July 13, 2022 covering the Island of Hawai‘i. Each color fringe represents 2.83 centimeters (1.11 inches) of ground displacement. There is evidence for a few millimeters of inflation at Mauna Loa, and no noteworthy deformation at Kīlauea during this time span.