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Geology Picture of the Week, Sep. 7-13, 2008: "Breaking": Lava in Halemaumau (Kilauea, Hawaii)
Hawaii Volcano Observatory Kilauea Update Page ^ | USGS

Posted on 09/09/2008 11:24:37 AM PDT by cogitator

Background: Several months ago, a vent opened explosively in Halemaumau, the crater inside the caldera of Kileaua volcano. Halemaumau used to be famous (notably due to a description from Mark Twain) as the location of a lava lake, fairly easily accessible by visitors. The lava lake disappeared in 1924 during a series of explosive phreatic eruptions (steam and hot rock). The lake has appeared briefly since then, such as in 1967.

Famous photo of explosive eruption from Halemaumau

The new vent has been producing a steady cloud of SO2 (occasionally irritating residents on Oahu) since it opened. There have been occasional explosions, and activity picked up a bit last week. And the news is now, a helicopter overflight glimpsed the lake of lava deep in the vent that is causing all this. That's the picture and the movie below. So there's a chance the Halemaumau crater could fill with lava again.

Or not. The flank crater Pu'u O'o which has been the source of Kileaua's main lava outflow (and from which lava flows are still emanating as they head to the sea) hosted a lava lake for a few days several months ago. Then it drained. So it will be interesting to see what happens next with Halemaumau.

Link to Quicktime movie


TOPICS: Arts/Photography; Education; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: hawaii; kilauea; lava; volcano
The line for volunteers to obtain samples from the new lava lake can now form in front of me.
1 posted on 09/09/2008 11:24:37 AM PDT by cogitator
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To: 2Trievers; headsonpikes; Pokey78; Lil'freeper; epsjr; sauropod; Miss Marple; CPT Clay; ...

** ping **


2 posted on 09/09/2008 11:25:44 AM PDT by cogitator
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To: cogitator

Its’ obvious this is Palins’ fault.


3 posted on 09/09/2008 11:31:24 AM PDT by beckysueb (Drill here! Drill now!)
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To: cogitator
Mrs 40 and I visited the crater last December...


4 posted on 09/09/2008 12:04:20 PM PDT by South40
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To: South40
Glad you guys weren't here when it exploded! (Hope I don't mess up adding a pic! Forgive me if I do) Photobucket
5 posted on 09/09/2008 12:26:59 PM PDT by BigIsleGal (Don't Make Me Call Out My Flying Monkeys!)
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To: BigIsleGal
No we weren't. That's quite a pic though.

And you did well posting it! :-)

6 posted on 09/09/2008 12:43:59 PM PDT by South40
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To: cogitator

Mother Nature continues to impress me with her majesty.


7 posted on 09/09/2008 12:58:28 PM PDT by geezerwheezer (get up boys, we're burnin' daylight!!!)
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