Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Videos

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

Filter Total Items: 775
USGS Status Update of Kīlauea Volcano - May 10, 2018
USGS Status Update of Kīlauea Volcano - May 10, 2018
USGS Status Update of Kīlauea Volcano - May 10, 2018

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory status of Kilauea volcano in Hawaii on May 10, 2018 by scientist in charge Tina Neal.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory status of Kilauea volcano in Hawaii on May 10, 2018 by scientist in charge Tina Neal.

Kīlauea East Rift Zone Eruption (May 8, 2018)
Kīlauea East Rift Zone Eruption (May 8, 2018)
Kīlauea East Rift Zone Eruption (May 8, 2018)

Aerial view of fissure 13 shortly after it opened this afternoon. The spattering fissure cut across Leilani Street, between Kahukai and Pohoiki Road.

Aerial view of fissure 13 shortly after it opened this afternoon. The spattering fissure cut across Leilani Street, between Kahukai and Pohoiki Road.

Kīlauea East Rift Zone Eruption (May 7, 2018)
Kīlauea East Rift Zone Eruption (May 7, 2018)
Kīlauea East Rift Zone Eruption (May 7, 2018)

Aerial view of fissure 12 at 1:15pm HST today. Bursting gas bubbles blasted spatter (bits of molten lava) skyward, with some fragments reaching as hight as the tree tops. This fissure opened in the forest south of Malama Street in Leilani Estates.

Aerial view of fissure 12 at 1:15pm HST today. Bursting gas bubbles blasted spatter (bits of molten lava) skyward, with some fragments reaching as hight as the tree tops. This fissure opened in the forest south of Malama Street in Leilani Estates.

Kīlauea East Rift Zone Eruption (May 6, 2018)
Kīlauea East Rift Zone Eruption (May 6, 2018)
Kīlauea East Rift Zone Eruption (May 6, 2018)

Aerial view of fissure 8 in Leilani Estates as of mid-afternoon today. After vigorously erupting for much of the day, activitiy on the fissure diminished around 4:00pm. A lava flow from the fissure advanced about 1 km (0.6 mi) to the northeast.

Aerial view of fissure 8 in Leilani Estates as of mid-afternoon today. After vigorously erupting for much of the day, activitiy on the fissure diminished around 4:00pm. A lava flow from the fissure advanced about 1 km (0.6 mi) to the northeast.

large lava flow rolling over road and through trees Kīlauea East Rift Zone Eruption (May 6, 2018)
Kīlauea East Rift Zone Eruption (May 6, 2018)
Kīlauea East Rift Zone Eruption (May 6, 2018)

Lava moving down Makamae Street in Leilani Estates at 9:32 a.m. on May 6, 2018.

Kīlauea East Rift Zone Eruption (May 5, 2018)
Kīlauea East Rift Zone Eruption (May 5, 2018)
Kīlauea East Rift Zone Eruption (May 5, 2018)

Fissure eruption on Luana Road, between Leilani and Malama, in the Leilani Estates subdivision, at 9:37 p.m. HST on May 5, 2018. Fountains reached heights of up to 100 m (about 330 feet)

Fissure eruption on Luana Road, between Leilani and Malama, in the Leilani Estates subdivision, at 9:37 p.m. HST on May 5, 2018. Fountains reached heights of up to 100 m (about 330 feet)

Kīlauea East Rift Zone Eruption (May 4, 2018)
Kīlauea East Rift Zone Eruption (May 4, 2018)
Kīlauea East Rift Zone Eruption (May 4, 2018)

Fissure 3 opened around 6:00 a.m. HST on Friday, May 4, with weak fuming from a crack on Kaupili Street. This fuming increased, as did rumbling sounds. Eventually spatter was ejected and accumulated around the fissure. Large, loud bubble bursts were common at this fissure.

Fissure 3 opened around 6:00 a.m. HST on Friday, May 4, with weak fuming from a crack on Kaupili Street. This fuming increased, as did rumbling sounds. Eventually spatter was ejected and accumulated around the fissure. Large, loud bubble bursts were common at this fissure.

Kīlauea East Rift Zone Eruption (May 4, 2018)
Kīlauea East Rift Zone Eruption (May 4, 2018)
Kīlauea East Rift Zone Eruption (May 4, 2018)

Fissure 2 opened around 1:00 a.m. HST on Friday, May 4, with a small area of spattering in a residential driveway. Within an hour the spattering was more vigorous, with spatter reaching about 30 meters (100 feet). This spatter was thrown over the power lines and landed on Makamae Street.

Fissure 2 opened around 1:00 a.m. HST on Friday, May 4, with a small area of spattering in a residential driveway. Within an hour the spattering was more vigorous, with spatter reaching about 30 meters (100 feet). This spatter was thrown over the power lines and landed on Makamae Street.

Kīlauea East Rift Zone Eruption (May 3, 2018)
Kīlauea East Rift Zone Eruption (May 3, 2018)
Kīlauea East Rift Zone Eruption (May 3, 2018)

This small fissure = opened in the Leilani Estates subdivision on the lower East Rift Zone of Kilauea Volcano around 5:00 p.m. Lava erupted from the fissure until about 6:30pm, when it became inactive.

This small fissure = opened in the Leilani Estates subdivision on the lower East Rift Zone of Kilauea Volcano around 5:00 p.m. Lava erupted from the fissure until about 6:30pm, when it became inactive.

Kīlauea Volcano - April 26th, 2018
Kīlauea Volcano - April 26th, 2018
Kīlauea Volcano - April 26th, 2018

Vigorous overflows from Kīlauea's summit lava lake covered a large portion of the floor of Halema‘uma‘u this morning. In this video, the view starts from the north and heads south, showing the north and east sides of Halema‘uma‘u crater.

Vigorous overflows from Kīlauea's summit lava lake covered a large portion of the floor of Halema‘uma‘u this morning. In this video, the view starts from the north and heads south, showing the north and east sides of Halema‘uma‘u crater.

Rising Lava Lake
Rising Lava Lake
Rising Lava Lake

Vigorous overflows from Kīlauea's summit lava lake covered a large portion of the floor of Halema‘uma‘u this morning. In this video, the view starts from the north and heads south, showing the north and east sides of Halema‘uma‘u crater.

Vigorous overflows from Kīlauea's summit lava lake covered a large portion of the floor of Halema‘uma‘u this morning. In this video, the view starts from the north and heads south, showing the north and east sides of Halema‘uma‘u crater.

Kīlauea Volcano - April 25th, 2018
Kīlauea Volcano - April 25th, 2018
Kīlauea Volcano - April 25th, 2018

On Kīlauea Volcano's summit, the Halema‘uma‘u lava lake's high standing lake level produced intermittent overflows onto the crater floor.

On Kīlauea Volcano's summit, the Halema‘uma‘u lava lake's high standing lake level produced intermittent overflows onto the crater floor.

Intermittent Lava Flows on Crater Floor
Intermittent Lava Flows on Crater Floor
Intermittent Lava Flows on Crater Floor

On Kīlauea Volcano's summit, the Halema‘uma‘u lava lake's high standing lake level produced intermittent overflows onto the crater floor. Smaller overflows and spattering have started to build a few discontinuous levees and a spatter cone around the lake margin, shown in these video clips taken from the lakes north and northeastern margin.

On Kīlauea Volcano's summit, the Halema‘uma‘u lava lake's high standing lake level produced intermittent overflows onto the crater floor. Smaller overflows and spattering have started to build a few discontinuous levees and a spatter cone around the lake margin, shown in these video clips taken from the lakes north and northeastern margin.

Time-Lapse Showing Lava Lake Flows
Time-Lapse Showing Lava Lake Flows
Time-Lapse Showing Lava Lake Flows

This time-lapse video from 7:30 p.m. April 25 to 7:30 p.m. April 26 shows Halema‘uma‘u lava lake producing intermittent overflows onto the crater floor. The largest of these flows was from approximately 6:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on April 26 and covered about 90 acres (2/3) of the crater floor.

This time-lapse video from 7:30 p.m. April 25 to 7:30 p.m. April 26 shows Halema‘uma‘u lava lake producing intermittent overflows onto the crater floor. The largest of these flows was from approximately 6:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on April 26 and covered about 90 acres (2/3) of the crater floor.

Overview of the Lake from Halema`uma`u Crater Rim
Overview of the Lake from Halema`uma`u Crater Rim
Overview of the Lake from Halema`uma`u Crater Rim

Rising summit lake levels peaked last night, producing small overflows onto the Halema'uma'u Crater floor. The lake remains high this afternoon, with spattering along the lake margins. The lake level IS just a couple meters (yards) below the crater rim.

Rising summit lake levels peaked last night, producing small overflows onto the Halema'uma'u Crater floor. The lake remains high this afternoon, with spattering along the lake margins. The lake level IS just a couple meters (yards) below the crater rim.

A virtual flyover of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō
A virtual flyover of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō
A virtual flyover of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō

This video shows a virtual flyover of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, the active vent on Kīlauea's East Rift Zone. The 3-D model was constructed from thermal images collected by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists during a helicopter overflight on April 18.

This video shows a virtual flyover of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, the active vent on Kīlauea's East Rift Zone. The 3-D model was constructed from thermal images collected by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists during a helicopter overflight on April 18.

Time-Lapse on Rim of Pu`u `Ō`ō
Time-Lapse on Rim of Pu`u `Ō`ō
Time-Lapse on Rim of Pu`u `Ō`ō

This time-lapse image sequence taken by a time-lapse camera on the rim of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō's west pit, spans March 20 to April 18. The sequence, of approximately one image per day, shows the growth of the lava pond within the west pit as it developed into a perched lava pond. This sequence is looped 4 times.

This time-lapse image sequence taken by a time-lapse camera on the rim of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō's west pit, spans March 20 to April 18. The sequence, of approximately one image per day, shows the growth of the lava pond within the west pit as it developed into a perched lava pond. This sequence is looped 4 times.

Rockfall and Explosion from Overlook Crater
Rockfall and Explosion from Overlook Crater
Rockfall and Explosion from Overlook Crater

Video: At 10:28 a.m. HST this morning (April 6), rock falls from the Overlook crater wall into Kīlauea Volcano's summit lava lake triggered an explosive event. This video, taken by the K2cam, shows a dark pulsing plume of ash and debris.

Video: At 10:28 a.m. HST this morning (April 6), rock falls from the Overlook crater wall into Kīlauea Volcano's summit lava lake triggered an explosive event. This video, taken by the K2cam, shows a dark pulsing plume of ash and debris.

Video of Kīlauea Volcano's summit lava lake
Video of Kīlauea Volcano's summit lava lake
Video of Kīlauea Volcano's summit lava lake

Video: Clear skies and sunshine provided a spectacular view of Kīlauea Volcano's summit lava lake this morning. Spattering on the north side and center of the lake surface—a departure from its more common location on the southeast side of the lake—occasionally happens when the surface flow direction reverses.

Video: Clear skies and sunshine provided a spectacular view of Kīlauea Volcano's summit lava lake this morning. Spattering on the north side and center of the lake surface—a departure from its more common location on the southeast side of the lake—occasionally happens when the surface flow direction reverses.

Innovation at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory: 3D Printing
Innovation at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory: 3D Printing
Innovation at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory: 3D Printing

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory physical science technician Frank Younger describes innovative use of 3D printing technology to manufacture parts to aid in volcano monitoring.
 

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory physical science technician Frank Younger describes innovative use of 3D printing technology to manufacture parts to aid in volcano monitoring.
 

Time-lapse image sequence of small collapse in Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō in February
Time-lapse image sequence of small collapse in Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō in February
Time-lapse image sequence of small collapse in Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō in February

This time-lapse image sequence spans just over an hour (7:50 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.) on February 10. The sequence, which is repeated 20 times in this "movie," shows subsidence and collapse of the northeast rim of the west pit within the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater on Kīlauea's East Rift Zone.

This time-lapse image sequence spans just over an hour (7:50 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.) on February 10. The sequence, which is repeated 20 times in this "movie," shows subsidence and collapse of the northeast rim of the west pit within the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater on Kīlauea's East Rift Zone.