USGS Releases Kīlauea Lava Fountain Data Set

The public data covers lava fountain heights from the first 50 eruptive episodes at Kīlauea's summit.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Geology

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a single tall lava fountain rising from a dark volcanic vent against a deep navy night sky. — The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory released public data on lava fountain heights from the first 50 eruptive episodes at Kīlauea's summit. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has released a public data set documenting lava fountain heights from the first 50 eruptive episodes at Kīlauea. The measurements were derived from timelapse camera images analyzed by geologists after each episode.

Why it matters

The release gives researchers and the public a documented record of how high lava fountains reached during Kīlauea's eruptions. It reflects a shift from purely real-time estimates toward carefully measured post-eruption analysis.

The data set is based on timelapse camera images captured once per minute around the caldera, covering the first 50 eruptive episodes at Kīlauea. Individual fountain heights and the outcome of any future automated measurement methods are not specified in the source extraction.

The players

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is the federal science office that monitors Kīlauea and other Hawaiian volcanoes and issues eruption information to the public.

The details

Geologists collect images from a network of cameras positioned around the caldera after each episode ends. They manually mark the top of the continuous fountain in each frame, then convert pixel measurements into heights using the camera's calibrated field of view and the measured distance to the vent.

• The public data release was published on November 5, 2026.

Big Picture

The release extends the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's long-running monitoring of Kīlauea by making its measured fountain-height record from the first 50 episodes publicly available. It shows how camera-based measurement is being formalized into a documented archive.

The measured fountain-height record gives researchers a consistent baseline for comparing future Kīlauea eruptions. Readers interested in volcanic hazards can use it to understand how high lava fountains have reached in past episodes.

The takeaway

Publicly documented eruption data allows independent review of how volcanic activity is measured and recorded. Following agency releases is a practical way to track Kīlauea's behavior over time.