Posted on 07/27/2007 1:03:50 PM PDT by cogitator
Don't look back... there's a lava flow behind you. (Click for full size)
What's been happening: the lava lake in the Pu'u O'o crater drained, and a new fissure eruption began in an area where there hadn't been active lava since 1992. The man in the picture is standing in front of a "perched pond" -- an flat area, sometimes with rubble rims, where the lava in the flow pools before flowing further downslope. According to the daily update, it appears that the activity from the fissures may be declining.
Wild-guess prediction: we may be seeing the end stages of the Pu'u O'o eruption, which began in 1983. Or maybe not.
Here's a link to a map of the lava erupted by this eruption.
Here's what it used to look like: 
Here's the lava approaching the picnic area behind the beach: 
And here's the lava destined to cover the beach. They clearly didn't need the lifeguard stand any more.
However, basalt erodes easily when pounded by surf; there are already new black sand beaches, and there will be more. It may take awhile to grow the palm trees again.
** ping **
Who’ll be responsible for the carbon credits?
Did you notice that you can almost feel the heat on your face?
I’ve been watching the webcam of that crater lately. There isn’t much to see right now due to steam, clouds and daylight but the night time view can be spectacular.
http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/cam/index.htm
Amazing pictures. Thanks for the ping. :o)
My daughter and I were there - in ‘89. We wanted to see the green sand beach, but could not get there.
And it's definitely green.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
