Hawaii volcano: Why Kilauea's lava is causing eerie blue flames

FoxNews.com/Science ^ | May 24, 2018 | James Rogers

[ETL]

The U.S. Geological Survey has posted footage of the strange blue burning flames on its Facebook and Twitter accounts. Caused by methane gas, the flames were observed on cracks in a street in Hawaii’s Leilani Estates Subdivision on May 22.

“When hot lava buries plants and shrubs, methane gas is produced as a byproduct of burning vegetation,” explains the USGS, in the post. “Methane gas can seep into subsurface voids and explode when heated, or as shown in this video, emerge from cracks in the ground several feet away from the lava. When ignited, the methane produces a blue flame.”

Intermittent short bursts of methane are visible in the video, as is “lava fountaining,” which occurs when a jet of lava is sprayed into the air by the rapid formation and expansion of gas bubbles in molten rock.

[ETL]

Here’s a link to a great documentary on the history of Hawaii’s volcanoes. You will probably learn a lot of things you didn’t know before. It’s entirely devoted to the geologic history of the Hawaiian island chain.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xNbC0CSLH5o

[ETL]

[ETL]

[BBQToadRibs]

Surreal. Very cool though. Thanks for posting.

[Billthedrill]

Hawaii’s going to have to buy a heckuva lot of carbon credits for this one.

[JimSEA]

Even when you know it’s methane, it’s spooky. Good catch.

[ETL]

Surreal. Very cool though.

It's 'cool' as hell. :)

Blue flames are especially hot. Same with a stove.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

We used to do the blue flame thing in highschool.

[Quality_Not_Quantity]

We used to do the blue flame thing in highschool.

Beat me to it - you stinker!

[ETL]

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

My blue flames weren’t near that purty.

[Tea Party Terrorist]

Wow, 11 posts and no one blames the real culprit: Climate Change.

[pabianice]

Aiiee! Methane! Global Warming! Must stop earth farts!

[ETL]

Kawah Ijen Volcano [East Java, Indonesia]

Electric blue flames caused by burning volcanic gases and molten sulfur. A night scene at the solfatara in the caldera of Kawah Ijen Volcano.

https://geology.com/volcanoes/kawah-ijen/

_________________________________________

"The Ijen volcano complex is a group of composite volcanoes in the Banyuwangi Regency of East Java, Indonesia."-wikipedia

[ETL]

[Kartographer]

Madam Pele is cook’n with GAS!

[ETL]

Found this on YouTube. No info as to where it is.

Posted there in Jan 2018.

[ETL]

[ETL]

[ThePatriotsFlag]

Hawaii’s going to have to buy a heckuva lot of carbon credits for this one.

Actually this is what makes fools out of the Global Warming crowd. This volcano is adding more "junk" to the atmosphere than all of mankind. They'll never "get it."