44 Acres of Coastline Collapse in Hawaii

Associated Press via Breitbart ^ | December 2, 2005

[Daralundy]

HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, Hawaii - About 44 acres of coastline collapsed into the ocean this week, setting loose a glowing stream of lava that shot out from the newly exposed cliffside 45 feet above the water. The plume, 6 feet in diameter, sent up a tower of steam as it hit the water and began forming a ramp of new land.

The collapse of solidified lava shelf and sea cliff Monday was the largest since Kilauea Volcano began its current eruption in 1983.

Jim Kauahikaua, scientist-in-charge of the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, said a collapse warning was issued in June because the shelf had become large and had formed cracks. Large collapses had happened in the area before.

Rumblings tipped scientists to Monday's collapse, which took about 4 1/2 hours. Even at that relatively slow pace, the effect was spectacular.

"The cliff just caved away like a glacier," said park spokesman Jim Gale. "It just sheared off that old wall. There's this gigantic steam plume and you see the red just falling down _ an incredible fire hose display."

The collapse sent out globs of lava and head-size boulders. Sheets of volcanic glass called limu o Pele, after the Hawaiian goddess of fire, and thin strands of volcanic glass known as Pele's hair were found 1,800 feet inland.

[Rodney King]

No big deal. When coastline collapses into the ocean, what are you left with? More coastline.

Not that I care (I didn't even care about the Tsunami) but it is actually reduced coastline. If you were to picture the island as a circle, a collapse of the coastline could only result in a circle with a smaller circumfernce. Unless somehow the collaps of the coastline left massive fjords like you see in Norway.

[Calvin Locke]

Yeah, but the East Coast has talk of the Canary Islands sloughing off, sending huge wave to wipe out coastal cities.

[Strategerist]

Yeah, but the East Coast has talk of the Canary Islands sloughing off, sending huge wave to wipe out coastal cities.

The overwhelming majority of the tsunami research community has roundly debunked this scenario; landslide tsunami have difficulty propagating long distances. It's something frantically overhyped.

[Bender2]

Re: "Yeah, but the East Coast has talk of the Canary Islands sloughing off, sending huge wave to wipe out coastal cities."

Yeah, that's why I am also happy to be 1,000 miles from the East Coast and some 300 miles from the Gulf Coast...

[July 4th]

That's okay. They'll make more.

[Syncro]

Wow, it sounds like that was a spectacular display!

I wonder if anyone filmed it?

A while ago there were no Islands there. Then the volcanoes started to form them.

Already this is creating more land.

Cool

[NormsRevenge]

In this photo provided by the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, the collapse of 44-acres, (17.6-hectares) at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is seen falling into the ocean Monday, Nov. 28, 2005, exposing a 60-foot cliff and a 6-foot in diameter stream of lava shooting from the cliff face. The glowing lava has since formed a ramp of new land as it continues to pour out into the ocean sending up a tower of steam. The collapse of solidified lava and sea cliff is the largest since Kilauea Volcano began its current eruption in 1983. (AP Photo/Courtesy U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory)

[NormsRevenge]

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

Hawaii is falling into the sea.

Correct me if wrong, but I thought it was just the opposite. I believe Hawaii is actually building itself and growing.

[montag813]

About 44 acres of coastline collapsed into the ocean this week, setting loose a glowing stream of lava that shot out from the newly exposed cliffside 45 feet above the water

Looks like another drunk castmember of "Lost" was up to no good.

[kajingawd]

what a pessimist....i say hawaii is growing a coastline

[TheresaKett]

I have been to Hawaii Volcano Park several times and have stood within several feet of the surface flows of this volcano. It is amazing to see up close and our pictures do not fully capture the awe you feel being there. The rangers go to the lava flows with groups and they tell people not to go past a certain point. The volcano is relatively calm in that it is not spewing lava, but is just slow flowing. But wow, I remember seeing part of this coast being formed and now its falling into the ocean.

[Cobra64]

It's Bush's fault... Mt Vesuvius, Krakatowa, Mt. St. Helens, the sinking of the Titanic, solar flares, and The Man In The Moon!

Damn Republicans really flame my butt!

[geopyg]

"That's why I am also happy to be 1,000 miles from the East Coast and some 300 miles from the Gulf Coast..."

Two words: New Madrid!

[geopyg]

Geologic records show that a large chunk of one of the Islands fell into the ocean. It send a wave over 400' tall right into the bay of Honolulu if I recall. (It was some place with lots of skyscrappers). And they're monitoring some big huge crack (miles long and several feet wide) on one of the islands for movement.

[norwaypinesavage]

"When coastline collapses into the ocean, what are you left with? More coastline.

Actually, on an island, if enough coastline falls away, you are left with only ocean.

[al baby]

When does a cuumb become half a crumb?

[al baby]

Crumb boy im dump

[Fzob]

There has been talk of a large chunk of the Big Island falling into the sea causing a thousand foot tidal wave across the Pacific...

Who is talking about that?

Come'on a 1000' wave generated that will travel thousands of miles because a big chuck of relatively small island fell into the sea. How far can it fall? A few hundred feet?

It think those talking about this have been watching too many Hollywood scifi movies.

[steveo]

The lava bubble has burst.