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Volcano Hazard Program images.

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Did groundwater trigger explosive eruptions at Kīlauea?
Did groundwater trigger explosive eruptions at Kīlauea?
Did groundwater trigger explosive eruptions at Kīlauea?

Explosive eruption columns of ash rising from Halema‘uma‘u at 11:15 a.m. on May 18, 1924 (top) and at 11:05 a.m. on May 15, 2018 (bottom) look similar.

Explosive eruption columns of ash rising from Halema‘uma‘u at 11:15 a.m. on May 18, 1924 (top) and at 11:05 a.m. on May 15, 2018 (bottom) look similar.

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Rockfalls continue to change the shape of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō
Rockfalls continue to change the shape of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō
Rockfalls continue to change the shape of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō

The video was taken during an overflight of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater on Kīlauea's middle East Rift Zone. No major changes were observed, but the crater shape continues to change due to continued rockfalls.

The video was taken during an overflight of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater on Kīlauea's middle East Rift Zone. No major changes were observed, but the crater shape continues to change due to continued rockfalls.

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Landsat-8 nighttime thermal infrared image from April 2017 showing the Tern Lake
Landsat-8 nighttime thermal infrared image from April 2017 showing the Tern Lake
Landsat-8 nighttime thermal infrared image from April 2017 showing the Tern Lake

Landsat-8 nighttime thermal infrared image from April 2017 showing the Tern Lake area. In Yellowstone, temperatures are extremely cold at night in the winter, and most lakes are frozen (dark pixels). West Tern Lake seems to be thawing here - perhaps it receives some thermal waters from nearby hot springs.

Landsat-8 nighttime thermal infrared image from April 2017 showing the Tern Lake area. In Yellowstone, temperatures are extremely cold at night in the winter, and most lakes are frozen (dark pixels). West Tern Lake seems to be thawing here - perhaps it receives some thermal waters from nearby hot springs.

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View into Halema‘uma‘u from the west rim of Kīlauea's summit ca
View into Halema‘uma‘u from the west rim of Kīlauea's summit ca
View into Halema‘uma‘u from the west rim of Kīlauea's summit ca

View into Halema‘uma‘u from the west rim of Kīlauea's summit caldera. USGS photo: J. Kauahikaua, 03 March 2019

View into Halema‘uma‘u from the west rim of Kīlauea's summit caldera. USGS photo: J. Kauahikaua, 03 March 2019

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View of the Mono Lake-Long Valley volcanic region
View of the Mono Lake-Long Valley volcanic region
View of the Mono Lake-Long Valley volcanic region

Aerial view due south of the Mono Lake-Long Valley volcanic region. Inset map shows locations of latest Pleistocene–Holocene silicic magmatic centers relative to Long Valley caldera. Rhyolites of the Mono–Inyo chain are shown in pink, and the dacitic–rhyodacitic Mammoth Mountain dome complex is shown in blue. U.S.

Aerial view due south of the Mono Lake-Long Valley volcanic region. Inset map shows locations of latest Pleistocene–Holocene silicic magmatic centers relative to Long Valley caldera. Rhyolites of the Mono–Inyo chain are shown in pink, and the dacitic–rhyodacitic Mammoth Mountain dome complex is shown in blue. U.S.

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Huckleberry Ridge Tuff deposit exposed on Mt. Everts, Yellowstone National Park
Huckleberry Ridge Tuff deposit exposed on Mt. Everts, Yellowstone National Park
Huckleberry Ridge Tuff deposit exposed on Mt. Everts, Yellowstone National Park

Huckleberry Ridge Tuff deposit exposed on Mt. Everts, near the northern boundary of Yellowstone National Park. The deposit was created by ash falling from the plume early in the eruption sequence, 2.08 million years ago. Photo by Madison Myers, Montana State University.

Huckleberry Ridge Tuff deposit exposed on Mt. Everts, near the northern boundary of Yellowstone National Park. The deposit was created by ash falling from the plume early in the eruption sequence, 2.08 million years ago. Photo by Madison Myers, Montana State University.

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How do lava flows cool and how long does it take?
How do lava flows cool and how long does it take?
How do lava flows cool and how long does it take?

This ‘a‘ā flow erupted from fissure 8 on Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone on June 1, 2018, shows how the interior of a lava flow remains incandescently hot even though surface cooling forms a crust of solid rubble.

This ‘a‘ā flow erupted from fissure 8 on Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone on June 1, 2018, shows how the interior of a lava flow remains incandescently hot even though surface cooling forms a crust of solid rubble.

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Science cover_2018 rift eruption and summit collapse of Kīlauea
Science cover_2018 rift eruption and summit collapse of Kīlauea
Science cover_2018 rift eruption and summit collapse of Kīlauea

Science cover_2018 rift eruption and summit collapse of Kīlauea

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Low sulfur emissions mean a new focus on a different volcanic gas
Low sulfur emissions mean a new focus on a different volcanic gas
Low sulfur emissions mean a new focus on a different volcanic gas

A USGS pilot and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory gas geochemist prepare to conduct a test flight of an unmanned aerial system (UAS) on Kīlauea Volcano in November 2018. This UAS was outfitted with a prototype miniaturized multi-gas sensor for the detection of volcanic gases emitted by Kīlauea, including sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide.

A USGS pilot and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory gas geochemist prepare to conduct a test flight of an unmanned aerial system (UAS) on Kīlauea Volcano in November 2018. This UAS was outfitted with a prototype miniaturized multi-gas sensor for the detection of volcanic gases emitted by Kīlauea, including sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide.

Dragon's Mouth, Yellowstone National Park
Dragon's Mouth, Yellowstone National Park
Dragon's Mouth, Yellowstone National Park
Dragon's Mouth, Yellowstone National Park

Dragon’s Mouth in the Mud Volcano Area of Yellowstone National Park.

Dragon’s Mouth in the Mud Volcano Area of Yellowstone National Park.

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Why do some Hawaii earthquakes occur so far offshore?
Why do some Hawaii earthquakes occur so far offshore?
Why do some Hawaii earthquakes occur so far offshore?

Many of the earthquakes in Hawaii that extend offshore and up the island chain are due to plate bending, or flexure. The upper panel shows magnitude-5 and greater earthquakes since 1861, with some notable events labeled.

Many of the earthquakes in Hawaii that extend offshore and up the island chain are due to plate bending, or flexure. The upper panel shows magnitude-5 and greater earthquakes since 1861, with some notable events labeled.

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A sensor data logger recovered from the floor of Yellowstone Lake in the Deep Ho
A sensor data logger recovered from the floor of Yellowstone Lake in the Deep Ho
A sensor data logger recovered from the floor of Yellowstone Lake in the Deep Ho

A sensor data logger recovered from the floor of Yellowstone Lake in the Deep Hole area in 2018 shows signs of melting due to unexpectedly high temperatures in sediments up to ~3 ft (1 m) away from an active hydrothermal vent. Image acquired by the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration ROV Yogi on August 4, 2018.

A sensor data logger recovered from the floor of Yellowstone Lake in the Deep Hole area in 2018 shows signs of melting due to unexpectedly high temperatures in sediments up to ~3 ft (1 m) away from an active hydrothermal vent. Image acquired by the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration ROV Yogi on August 4, 2018.

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Hot spring waters with relatively high dissolved element concentrations on the f
Hot spring waters with relatively high dissolved element concentrations on the f
Hot spring waters with relatively high dissolved element concentrations on the f

Hot spring waters with relatively high dissolved element concentrations on the floor of West Thumb, Yellowstone Lake. Image acquired by the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration ROV Yogi on August 7, 2018.

Hot spring waters with relatively high dissolved element concentrations on the floor of West Thumb, Yellowstone Lake. Image acquired by the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration ROV Yogi on August 7, 2018.

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7 months of no lava at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō heralds end of an e
7 months of no lava at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō heralds end of an e
7 months of no lava at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō heralds end of an e

Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō on May 3, 2018, as viewed from the helicopter overflight. The crater floor is collapsed, and a thin plume escapes from the gaping crater. The west flank cracked on April 30th around 2:30 pm HST, and minor amounts of lava oozed out of the crack (line of steaming features) just before the plumbing system catastrophically failed.

Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō on May 3, 2018, as viewed from the helicopter overflight. The crater floor is collapsed, and a thin plume escapes from the gaping crater. The west flank cracked on April 30th around 2:30 pm HST, and minor amounts of lava oozed out of the crack (line of steaming features) just before the plumbing system catastrophically failed.

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InSAR image of Yellowstone spanning 2004-2006
InSAR image of Yellowstone spanning 2004-2006
InSAR image of Yellowstone spanning 2004-2006

Color bands in this radar interferogram depict the pattern of surface deformation at the Yellowstone caldera from September 22, 2004, to August 23, 2006. The southwest and northeast parts of the caldera floor rose about 11 cm (4.3 inches) and 15 cm (5.9 inches), respectively, while the north caldera rim near Norris Geyser Basin subsided about 7 cm (2.8 inches).

Color bands in this radar interferogram depict the pattern of surface deformation at the Yellowstone caldera from September 22, 2004, to August 23, 2006. The southwest and northeast parts of the caldera floor rose about 11 cm (4.3 inches) and 15 cm (5.9 inches), respectively, while the north caldera rim near Norris Geyser Basin subsided about 7 cm (2.8 inches).

Color photograph of caldera
Kīlauea summit
Kīlauea summit
Kīlauea summit

At Kīlauea's summit today, a clear morning gave way to heavy rain, which re-mobilized the ash cover between HVO and the Southwest Rift Zone, concentrating the ash in washes.

At Kīlauea's summit today, a clear morning gave way to heavy rain, which re-mobilized the ash cover between HVO and the Southwest Rift Zone, concentrating the ash in washes.

color photograph of summit of volcano
Kīlauea summit
Kīlauea summit
Kīlauea summit

Kīlauea Volcano’s summit, seen here from the northeast rim of the caldera, has remained quiet, with no collapse events since August 2. It remains too soon to tell if this diminished activity represents a temporary lull or the end of summit collapses.

Kīlauea Volcano’s summit, seen here from the northeast rim of the caldera, has remained quiet, with no collapse events since August 2. It remains too soon to tell if this diminished activity represents a temporary lull or the end of summit collapses.

color photograph of lava channel
Fissure 8 lava channel
Fissure 8 lava channel
Fissure 8 lava channel

The fissure 8 lava channel remains inactive and continues to cool.

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Routine crack check by geologists in the lower East Rift Zone
Routine crack check by geologists in the lower East Rift Zone
Routine crack check by geologists in the lower East Rift Zone

USGS scientists continue to monitor some of the cracks in the lower East Rift Zone to check for any significant changes. This scientist is using an Infrared thermometer to record the temperature within the ground cracks.

USGS scientists continue to monitor some of the cracks in the lower East Rift Zone to check for any significant changes. This scientist is using an Infrared thermometer to record the temperature within the ground cracks.

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January is Volcano Awareness Month
January is Volcano Awareness Month
January is Volcano Awareness Month

Kīlauea Volcano's 2018 summit collapse, shown here on July 28 (left), and the lower East Rift Zone fissure 8 lava flow, shown here on July 2 (right), will be the focus of "Volcano Awareness Month" talks offered in January 2019.

Kīlauea Volcano's 2018 summit collapse, shown here on July 28 (left), and the lower East Rift Zone fissure 8 lava flow, shown here on July 2 (right), will be the focus of "Volcano Awareness Month" talks offered in January 2019.

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A Field Trip to the Mountain of Water
A Field Trip to the Mountain of Water
A Field Trip to the Mountain of Water

A midwinter dawn at Halema‘uma‘u on Kīlauea. Steaming cracks tell of water and heat interacting beneath the summit caldera of the volcano. In the background, the first rays of sunlight illuminate Uēkahuna Bluff. USGS photo by E. F. Younger, December 2018.

A midwinter dawn at Halema‘uma‘u on Kīlauea. Steaming cracks tell of water and heat interacting beneath the summit caldera of the volcano. In the background, the first rays of sunlight illuminate Uēkahuna Bluff. USGS photo by E. F. Younger, December 2018.