Free Republic

A live camera at Hawaiʻi’s Kīlauea volcano captured a rare sight this week — a swirling “volnado” forming next to a fountain of lava, the latest dramatic reminder of the mountain’s restless nature. The video released by the US Geological Survey (USGS) shows a column of ash sucked into a whirling vortex as molten rock bursts skyward. The spinning cloud resembled a tornado — but with volcanic heat fueling its rise. “We know you’ve heard of a volcano … but how about a volnado?” the USGS joked in a social media post that quickly spread across science and nature forums....

Kīlauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, is currently erupting in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Check out live video of the eruption as it sends lava spewing into the air on Hawaii's Big Island.

The formerly empty Halemaʻumaʻu Crater filled with lava, with molten rock gushing up in a spectacular fashion. The gurgling, roiling mess of lava continued into the evening as webcams and U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service scientists captured striking images of Earth spilling its guts. As of now, the eruption is confined to the crater and poses no immediate threat to those living in the shadow of Kīlauea, meaning we can mostly gawk at the stunning images. That said, the USGS has issued a red alert warning, and the area near the eruption is closed due to hazards in...