Images

Preview image for video: shows the same rockfall as captured by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory webcam perched on the rim of Halema‘uma‘u Crater. Note the fragments of molten lava flying toward the camera—just one of the hazards that led to the closure of this area.

Volcanic eruptions happen in the State of California about as frequently as the largest earthquakes on the San Andreas Fault Zone. At least 10 eruptions have taken place in California in the past 1,000 years—most recently at Lassen Peak in Lassen Volcanic National Park (1914 to 1917) in the northern part of the State—and future volcanic eruptions are inevitable.

Map of the Heart Mountain slide block. From Mitchell et al., 2015 ("Catastrophic emplacement of giant landslides aided by thermal decomposition: Heart Mountain, Wyoming." Earth and Planetary Science Letters 411: 199-207), modified from Anders et al. (2010).

CalVO's Stuart Wilkinson skis out to a remote seismic instrument in the Long Valley volcanic region to perform routine maintenance.

Geologic field-trip guide to Lassen Volcanic National Park and vicinity, California

USGS scientists Kate Allstadt and Cynthia Gardner tell the story of the May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens and how the catastrophic landslide, lateral blast, and lahar changed the landscape.

Yellowstone subsurface cross-section schematic oriented SW-NE, depicts rise of magma beneath mantle plus heating and movement of mantle and crustal material. Credit Univ Utah. Click to enlarge.

Newberry Volcano's youngest lava flows. Source: Robinson, J.E., Donnelly-Nolan, J.M., and Jensen, R.A., 2015, Newberry Volcano’s Youngest Lava Flows: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3329, 1 sheet, https://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sim3329.

The November 25, 2015, breakout that began as a rupture from the tube supplying the June 27th lava flow advanced slowly to the northeast of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō (background) and reached the forest in mid-December, but still poses no immediate threat to Puna communities. USGS image.

Eruptions between 1064 and 1067 AD produced three lava flows that covered 8 km² (3 mi²) and a field of scoria and spatter that covers 2300 km² (890 mi²). Archeological evidence shows that there were communities of people living in the area who were impacted by the eruption.

(Left) Sample of the Pitchstone Plateau rhyolite flow, which erupted about 72,000 years ago, making it is the youngest rhyolite at Yellowstone. The blocky white crystals in this sample are the mineral sanidine, whereas the rounded crystals are quartz.

This view shows the north rim of Kīlauea Caldera, with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park's Jaggar Museum perched at the rim for ideal views of summit activity. Mauna Kea is in the distance, partially obscured by clouds, and Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone extends off the left edge of the photo.

On December 30, 2015, an HVO geologist wore protective gear during collection of a fresh lava sample for chemical analysis from a pāhoehoe breakout along scattered Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō lava flows. Inset image caption: Metadata is written on a bag that holds a sample taken from pāhoehoe that was collected on August 18, 2006.

This map overlays a georeferenced thermal image mosaic onto a map of the flow field near Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō; to show the distribution of active and recently active breakouts. The thermal images were collected during a helicopter overflight on December 30. The June 27th flow is outlined in green to highlight the previously mapped flow margin.

Scattered breakouts remain active northeast of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, with the farthest activity about 6 km (3.7 miles) from the vent on Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. Some of these breakouts are active along the northern boundary of the flow field, and are burning several small patches of forest - creating the smoke plumes visible near the center of the photograph.

An HVO geologist collects a molten lava sample for chemical analysis, scooping up a bit with the rock hammer to then drop in the water bucket to quench it. Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō is visible in the distance.

The sun angle was ideal this morning to show the complex texture on the surface of the lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u Crater at Kīlauea's summit. Spattering was active in the southeast portion of the lake. For scale, the lake is about 230 meters or 755 feet across.

Black and white phreatomagmatic deposits blanket the white and orange layers of metasedimentary country rock that was blasted into a crater 2100 years ago during the eruption of Ubehebe Craters in Death Valley National Park.

Kīlauea Volcano's summit lava lake was just one of many topics that USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists talked about at the recent American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco.

The breakout that began as a rupture from the tube supplying the June 27th lava flow continues to advance slowly to the northeast and has reached the forest.