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Images

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

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Aerial view of ocean entry
Kīlauea Volcano — Ocean Entry Laze Plume
Kīlauea Volcano — Ocean Entry Laze Plume
Kīlauea Volcano — Ocean Entry Laze Plume

View of the ocean entry and the resulting laze plume where lava is entering the sea.

Aerial of fissure 8 lava flow
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8

Fissure 8 lava fountain during this morning's overflight of the lower East Rift Zone.

Fissure 8 from the ground
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8

Fissure 8 fountains to heights of 130-140 ft. The lava spatter chills and the fragments are building a cone on the downwind side, now nearly as tall as the fountain itself.
 

Fissure 8 fountains to heights of 130-140 ft. The lava spatter chills and the fragments are building a cone on the downwind side, now nearly as tall as the fountain itself.
 

Kīlauea lower East Rift Zone lava flows and fissures, June 13, 10:0...
Kīlauea LERZ lava flows and fissures, June 13, 10:00 a.m.
Kīlauea LERZ lava flows and fissures, June 13, 10:00 a.m.
Kīlauea LERZ lava flows and fissures, June 13, 10:00 a.m.

Map as of 10:00 a.m. HST, June 13, 2018. Given the dynamic nature of Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone eruption, with changing vent locations, fissures starting and stopping, and varying rates of lava effusion, map details shown here are accurate as of the date/time noted. Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015.

Map as of 10:00 a.m. HST, June 13, 2018. Given the dynamic nature of Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone eruption, with changing vent locations, fissures starting and stopping, and varying rates of lava effusion, map details shown here are accurate as of the date/time noted. Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015.

Aerial view of crater
Kīlauea Volcano — Halema‘uma‘u Crater
Kīlauea Volcano — Halema‘uma‘u Crater
Kīlauea Volcano — Halema‘uma‘u Crater

Events at the summit of Kīlauea over the past few weeks have dramatically reshaped Halema‘uma‘u, shown here in this aerial view, which looks west across the crater. The obvious flat surface (photo center) is the former Halema‘uma‘u crater floor, which has subsided at least 100 m (about 300 ft) during the past couple weeks.

Events at the summit of Kīlauea over the past few weeks have dramatically reshaped Halema‘uma‘u, shown here in this aerial view, which looks west across the crater. The obvious flat surface (photo center) is the former Halema‘uma‘u crater floor, which has subsided at least 100 m (about 300 ft) during the past couple weeks.

Lava flows entering the ocean
Kīlauea Volcano — Multiple Ocean Entries
Kīlauea Volcano — Multiple Ocean Entries
Kīlauea Volcano — Multiple Ocean Entries

The south side of the ocean entry was most active today, with many small streams of lava and corresponding steam plumes spread along a fairly broad section of the southern part of the delta. USGS image taken June 12, 2018, around 6:13 AM.

The south side of the ocean entry was most active today, with many small streams of lava and corresponding steam plumes spread along a fairly broad section of the southern part of the delta. USGS image taken June 12, 2018, around 6:13 AM.

Aerial view of Kapoho Bay
Kīlauea Volcano — Kapoho Bay
Kīlauea Volcano — Kapoho Bay
Kīlauea Volcano — Kapoho Bay

Aerial view of the ocean entry at Kapoho, where a lava delta about 250 acres in size is filling the bay. USGS image taken June 12, 2018, around 6:50 a.m. HST.

Aerial view of the ocean entry at Kapoho, where a lava delta about 250 acres in size is filling the bay. USGS image taken June 12, 2018, around 6:50 a.m. HST.

Braided lava channels
Kīlauea Volcano — Braided Lava Channels
Kīlauea Volcano — Braided Lava Channels
Kīlauea Volcano — Braided Lava Channels

Fissure 8 (fountain visible in distance) feeds lava into an active braided channel that flows about 8 miles (north, then east) to the ocean entry in Kapoho Bay. USGS image taken June 12, 2018, around 6:50 a.m. HST.

Fissure 8 (fountain visible in distance) feeds lava into an active braided channel that flows about 8 miles (north, then east) to the ocean entry in Kapoho Bay. USGS image taken June 12, 2018, around 6:50 a.m. HST.

Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Lava Fountain
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Lava Fountain
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Lava Fountain

Fissure 8 fountains reached heights up to 160 feet overnight. Lava fragments falling from the fountains are building a cinder-and-

Fissure 8 fountains reached heights up to 160 feet overnight. Lava fragments falling from the fountains are building a cinder-and-

Aerial of crater cracks
Kīlauea Volcano — Halema`uma`u Crater Cracks
Kīlauea Volcano — Halema`uma`u Crater Cracks
Kīlauea Volcano — Halema`uma`u Crater Cracks

A closer view of the cracks cutting across the parking lot for the former Halema‘uma‘u visitor overlook (closed since 2008, when an active vent opened within the crater). Additional photos—ground views—of the parking lot cracks were posted on June 7 and 11.

A closer view of the cracks cutting across the parking lot for the former Halema‘uma‘u visitor overlook (closed since 2008, when an active vent opened within the crater). Additional photos—ground views—of the parking lot cracks were posted on June 7 and 11.

Fissure eruption with houses in the foreground
Kīlauea Volcano —
Kīlauea Volcano —
Kīlauea Volcano —

Image taken during the June 12, 2018, morning helicopter overflight of fissure 8 and the lava channel.

Image taken during the June 12, 2018, morning helicopter overflight of fissure 8 and the lava channel.

Kīlauea summit...
Kīlauea summit
Kīlauea summit
Kīlauea summit

Events at the summit of Kīlauea over the past few weeks have dramatically reshaped Halema‘uma‘u, shown here in this aerial view, which looks west across the crater. The obvious flat surface (photo center) is the former Halema‘uma‘u crater floor, which has subsided at least 100 m (about 300 ft) during the past couple weeks.

Events at the summit of Kīlauea over the past few weeks have dramatically reshaped Halema‘uma‘u, shown here in this aerial view, which looks west across the crater. The obvious flat surface (photo center) is the former Halema‘uma‘u crater floor, which has subsided at least 100 m (about 300 ft) during the past couple weeks.

Aerial view of lava channel
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Channels (Fissure 8)
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Channels (Fissure 8)
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Channels (Fissure 8)

Aerial view of the fissure 8 lava channel on Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone in the vicinity of the Kapoho cone, with fissure 8 fountains visible in the distance (upper left).

Aerial view of the fissure 8 lava channel on Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone in the vicinity of the Kapoho cone, with fissure 8 fountains visible in the distance (upper left).

Cracked road
Kīlauea Volcano — Cracked Road at Summit
Kīlauea Volcano — Cracked Road at Summit
Kīlauea Volcano — Cracked Road at Summit

This 'warped-curb' crack, the largest in the parking area for the former Halema‘uma‘u overlook (closed since 2008), is one of many that have sliced the parking area into slices. Ballistics (blocks of solid rock) strewn across the area are visible in the foreground.

This 'warped-curb' crack, the largest in the parking area for the former Halema‘uma‘u overlook (closed since 2008), is one of many that have sliced the parking area into slices. Ballistics (blocks of solid rock) strewn across the area are visible in the foreground.

Kīlauea lower East Rift Zone lava flows and fissures, June 11, 3:00...
Kīlauea LERZ lava flows and fissures, June 11, 3:00 p.m.
Kīlauea LERZ lava flows and fissures, June 11, 3:00 p.m.
Kīlauea LERZ lava flows and fissures, June 11, 3:00 p.m.

Map as of 3:00 p.m. HST, June 11, 2018. Given the dynamic nature of Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone eruption, with changing vent locations, fissures starting and stopping, and varying rates of lava effusion, map details shown here are accurate as of the date/time noted. Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015.

Map as of 3:00 p.m. HST, June 11, 2018. Given the dynamic nature of Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone eruption, with changing vent locations, fissures starting and stopping, and varying rates of lava effusion, map details shown here are accurate as of the date/time noted. Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015.

Kīlauea summit activity...
Kīlauea summit activity
Kīlauea summit activity
Kīlauea summit activity

A series of wide-angle webcam images, captured by a camera in HVO's observation tower (https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_webcams.html) between June 1 and June 10, 2018, show ongoing subsidence around Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea in this animated GIF.

A series of wide-angle webcam images, captured by a camera in HVO's observation tower (https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_webcams.html) between June 1 and June 10, 2018, show ongoing subsidence around Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea in this animated GIF.

Aerial of lava flow
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 from a Distance
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 from a Distance
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 from a Distance

Distant view of Kīlauea Volcano's fissure 8 lava channel from HVO's early morning overflight on June 10, looking to the southeast. Bryson's cinder quarry is the brown patch just to the north of the channel.

Distant view of Kīlauea Volcano's fissure 8 lava channel from HVO's early morning overflight on June 10, looking to the southeast. Bryson's cinder quarry is the brown patch just to the north of the channel.

Aerial of lava channel
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Lava Channel
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Lava Channel
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Lava Channel

A closer view of the fissure 8 lava channel with the cinderquarry more clearly visible in the foreground (bottom of photo). During this morning's overflight, HVO geologists observed no new breakouts of lava near this quarry.

A closer view of the fissure 8 lava channel with the cinderquarry more clearly visible in the foreground (bottom of photo). During this morning's overflight, HVO geologists observed no new breakouts of lava near this quarry.

Aerial view of fissure 8 eruption
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Eruption
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Eruption
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Eruption

Fissure 8 continues to erupt vigorously, with lava streaming through a channel that reaches the ocean at Kapoho Bay.

Fissure 8 continues to erupt vigorously, with lava streaming through a channel that reaches the ocean at Kapoho Bay.

Aerial of Kapoho Bay
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Delta at Kapoho Bay
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Delta at Kapoho Bay
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Delta at Kapoho Bay

A closer aerial view of the lava delta forming at the Kapoho Bay ocean entry, where fissure 8 lava continued enter the ocean as of this morning. Laze (lava haze), an acidic white plume laced with tiny particles of volcanic glass, is produced by the ocean entry and creates an ongoing hazard that should be avoided.

A closer aerial view of the lava delta forming at the Kapoho Bay ocean entry, where fissure 8 lava continued enter the ocean as of this morning. Laze (lava haze), an acidic white plume laced with tiny particles of volcanic glass, is produced by the ocean entry and creates an ongoing hazard that should be avoided.

Aerial of ocean entry plume
Kīlauea Volcano — Kapoho Bay Ocean Entry Plume
Kīlauea Volcano — Kapoho Bay Ocean Entry Plume
Kīlauea Volcano — Kapoho Bay Ocean Entry Plume

The fissure 8 lava flow reaches the ocean at Kapoho Bay, where a lava delta has formed and continues to grow as lava enters the sea.

The fissure 8 lava flow reaches the ocean at Kapoho Bay, where a lava delta has formed and continues to grow as lava enters the sea.