Volcanic Activity at Kilauea

Kilauea is Hawaii’s youngest and most active volcano. It has been erupting sporadically since the 2000s.
Kilauea Glows
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Kilauea Glows

After three weeks of rest, lava started flowing again on Kilauea’s summit.

Published Jan 13, 2023

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Kilauea’s Lava Lake Returns
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Kilauea’s Lava Lake Returns

Water that had pooled in the crater since 2019 quickly boiled off during an eruption that began in December 2020.

Published Jan 7, 2021

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A New Lake—Water Not Lava—On Kilauea
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A New Lake—Water Not Lava—On Kilauea

After its lava lake drained and the floor dropped, water has been pooling up in the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u crater for several months.

Published May 8, 2020

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Lava Consumes Vacationland and Kapoho Bay
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Lava Consumes Vacationland and Kapoho Bay

Kilauea erupted enough lava to fill 45,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Published Jun 12, 2018

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The Infrared Glow of Kilauea’s Lava Flows
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The Infrared Glow of Kilauea’s Lava Flows

This false-color image shows the infrared signal emitted by fresh lava flowing toward the sea.

Published May 26, 2018

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Kilauea Continues to Erupt
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Kilauea Continues to Erupt

New fissures emerged near Leilani Estates.

Published May 17, 2018

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Probing Kilauea’s Plume
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Probing Kilauea’s Plume

Volcanic plumes can pose health hazards and offer clues about a volcano’s geology.

Published May 15, 2018

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Sulfur Dioxide Leaks from Kilauea
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Sulfur Dioxide Leaks from Kilauea

The eruption at one of Hawaii’s most active volcanoes has taken a turn for the worse.

Published May 8, 2018

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Sulfur Spews from Kilauea
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Sulfur Spews from Kilauea

The toxic gas was among the components that erupted from the Hawaiian volcano.

Published May 4, 2018

Atmosphere Volcanoes Remote Sensing

Lava Delta Collapses into Sea
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Lava Delta Collapses into Sea

Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano rang in the new year with a sudden and dangerous collapse of a lava delta.

Published Jan 7, 2017

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Kilauea’s Lava Pours Into the Pacific
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Kilauea’s Lava Pours Into the Pacific

Molten rock meets the sea in the latest episode in a long-lived eruption.

Published Nov 20, 2016

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Kilauea Lava Flow Reaches Hawaiian Town
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Kilauea Lava Flow Reaches Hawaiian Town

After advancing through forest for months, the June 27th lava has started to damage residential properties in Pahoa.

Published Oct 28, 2014

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Kilauea’s June 27 Lava Flow
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Kilauea’s June 27 Lava Flow

Landsat 8 captured these images of lava moving through forests in Hawaii on September 24, 2014.

Published Oct 1, 2014

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Kilauea Lava Flow Advances Toward Homes
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Kilauea Lava Flow Advances Toward Homes

The June 27th lava flow continues to move through the Puna Forest Reserve in Hawaii.

Published Sep 12, 2014

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Kilauea Lava Chews Through More Forest
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Kilauea Lava Chews Through More Forest

The most recent flow is pushing northeast into ohia lehua forests in Hawaii’s interior.

Published Apr 11, 2014

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Kilauea Lava Flows Encroach on Ohia Lehua Forest
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Kilauea Lava Flows Encroach on Ohia Lehua Forest

Volcanic Activity in Kilauea’s East Rift Zone is concentrated in the Kahauale’a 2 lava flow.

Published Sep 9, 2013

Land Volcanoes

Halema’uma’u Crater
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Halema’uma’u Crater

Gas emissions continue from the pit deep within Kilauea’s Caldera.

Published Aug 2, 2013

Land Volcanoes

Lava Flows on Kilauea
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Lava Flows on Kilauea

Two active lave flows: the Kahaulae’a 2 flow and the Peace Day flow, extend north and south from Kilauea’s Pu’u O’o.

Published Jul 9, 2013

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Last House Standing at Royal Gardens
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Last House Standing at Royal Gardens

Lava from Kilauea Volcano chipped away at the doomed Royal Gardens subdivision for decades. Now more than 75 homes are gone.

Published Jan 26, 2013

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Activity at Kilauea’s Summit
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Activity at Kilauea’s Summit

The ongoing eruption at the Hawai’ian volcano is apparent in visible, near infrared, and thermal light.

Published Jan 23, 2013

Land Volcanoes

30th Anniversary of the Pu’u ’O’o Eruption on Kilauea
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30th Anniversary of the Pu’u ’O’o Eruption on Kilauea

Overlapping lava flows on Kilauea Volcano illustrate the formation of the Hawaiian Islands.

Published Jan 5, 2013

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Fresh Lava on Kilauea, Hawaii
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Fresh Lava on Kilauea, Hawaii

Infared satellite imagery shows how lava tubes carry molten basalt from Pu'u 'O'o to the coastal plain.

Published Oct 23, 2012

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Lava Flows on the Kilauea’s Pali
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Lava Flows on the Kilauea’s Pali

The volcano continues to earn its reputation as Earth’s most active.

Published Jun 13, 2012

Land Volcanoes

100 Years at Kilauea
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100 Years at Kilauea

January 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, situated on the rim of Kilauea Caldera.

Published Jan 31, 2012

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Fresh Lava Flows Surround Pu’u ‘O’o
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Fresh Lava Flows Surround Pu’u ‘O’o

Fresh lava flows radiate from Kilauea’s Pu’su ’O’o, crater, as the Volcano’s longstanding eruption continues.

Published Nov 13, 2011

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Fresh Lava Flows at Pu’u O’o
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Fresh Lava Flows at Pu’u O’o

Satellite view of fresh lava flows from recent activity at Kilaue’s Pu’u O’o Crater.

Published Sep 9, 2011

Land Volcanoes

Business as Usual at Kilauea Volcano
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Business as Usual at Kilauea Volcano

The world’s longest-lived volcanic eruption, Kilauea, continued on July 30, 2011.

Published Aug 1, 2011

Land Volcanoes

Volcanic Activity at Kilauea
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Volcanic Activity at Kilauea

On March 5, 2011, one of Hawaii's most active volcanoes surged with flows of fresh lava and the opening of a new fissure.

Published Mar 24, 2011

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Volcanic Activity at Kilauea
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Volcanic Activity at Kilauea

Sulfur dioxide plume from Halema’uma’u Crater, Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii.

Published Jan 19, 2011

Atmosphere Land Volcanoes

Volcanic Activity at Kilauea
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Volcanic Activity at Kilauea

Fresh lava flows cover the slopes of Hawaii’s Kilauea Volcano.

Published Nov 4, 2010

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Kilauea Lava Enters the Ocean
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Kilauea Lava Enters the Ocean

Lava from Kilauea Volcano flows into the ocean near Kalapana, Hawaii.

Published Oct 5, 2010

Land Volcanoes

Volcanic Activity at Kilauea
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Volcanic Activity at Kilauea

A plume of water vapor, sulfur dioxide, and other volcanic gases continued to escape from Kilauea’s Halema‘uma‘u Crater on July 15, 2010.

Published Jul 22, 2010

Volcanoes

Volcanic Activity at Kilauea
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Volcanic Activity at Kilauea

A lava-filled pit set inside Kilauea’s Halema‘uma‘u Crater emitted a plume of steam, ash, and sulfur dioxide.

Published Mar 24, 2010

Atmosphere Land Volcanoes

Volcanic Activity at Kilauea
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Volcanic Activity at Kilauea

A plume of steam hangs over Kilauea’s Pu‘u O‘o crater in this satellite image.

Published Jan 19, 2010

Atmosphere Land Volcanoes

Volcanic Activity at Kilauea
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Volcanic Activity at Kilauea

Acquired December 11, 2009, these true-color images show a wide-area and two close-up views of plumes from Kilauea, including plumes from Halema‘uma‘u and Pu‘u O‘o Craters.

Published Dec 16, 2009

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Volcanic Activity at Kilauea
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Volcanic Activity at Kilauea

Volcanic fog&emdash;vog&emdash;swirls around the Hawaiian Islands in this satellite image.

Published Dec 10, 2009

Atmosphere Land Volcanoes

Lava Flows on Kilauea
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Lava Flows on Kilauea

Pu'u 'O'o and the Thanksgiving Eve Breakout vent on Kilauea--two centers of volcanic activity--emit steam and other gases in this satellite image.

Published Nov 5, 2009

Land Volcanoes

Plume from Kilauea’s Halema’uma’u Crater
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Plume from Kilauea’s Halema’uma’u Crater

Acquired August 19, 2009, this true-color image shows a ghostly gray-blue plume blowing from the Halema'uma'u Overlook vent on the Kilauea Volcano. While the land surface around the vent is devoid of vegetation, plants apparently thrive to the east.

Published Aug 21, 2009

Land Volcanoes

Volcanic Activity at Kilauea
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Volcanic Activity at Kilauea

Acquired June 29, 2009, this true-color image shows a small plume from a crater at Kilauea. A similar plume rises along the coastline where hot lava meets cold ocean water.

Published Jul 14, 2009

Land Volcanoes

Volcanic Activity at Kilauea
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Volcanic Activity at Kilauea

Relatively clear skies allow a view of plumes from Kilauea on May 24, 2009.

Published May 27, 2009

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Volcanic Activity at Kilauea
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Volcanic Activity at Kilauea

This false-color image shows activity at Kilauea on May 21, 2009, including fresh lava flows, volcanic plumes, and areas of scorching temperatures.

Published May 22, 2009

Atmosphere Land Volcanoes

Hawaiian Vog Photographed from Space Shuttle
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Hawaiian Vog Photographed from Space Shuttle

This image, taken by the crew of Space Shuttle Atlantis shows volcanic plumes from Kilauea rising up from three locations: Halema‘uma‘u Crater, Pu‘u ‘O‘o Crater, and from along the coastline where lava flows from the East Rift zone were entering the ocean.

Published May 22, 2009

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Volcanic Haze over Hawai’i
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Volcanic Haze over Hawai’i

Volcanic gases from Kilauea, the most active volcano in Hawai'i, blanketed the islands in thick haze in early December 2008.

Published Dec 6, 2008

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