Scientists release new photos of active lava near Pu’u ‘O’o
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists get fresh lava samples as close to the vent as possible. Once the sample is scooped from the paøhoehoe lobe, it is quickly quenched in a bucket of water to stop the growth of any crystals and to preserve the composition of the liquid lava. Once cooled, the sample is sent first to UH Hilo for quick analysis of a few components and prepared for a fuller analysis of its chemical components by a lab on the mainland.
Scientists take very low frequency radio wave measurements over a lava tube to estimate the area of lava within the tube. The work sometimes requires Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists to walk through volcanic gases.
Very low frequency radio wave information, transmitted from the Lualualei Naval Base on Oahu, is received by the handheld device, read and recorded by scientists. The data allows scientists to estimate lava in the tube system.
The March 09 breakouts near Pu'u Kahauale'a, have advanced northward and reached the forest at the north edge of the Kahauale'a flows and was burning vegetation along its edges.
The leading edge of the lava flow, just upslope of the Pahoa Marketplace, is inactive. The active breakouts Tueday were 8.7 miles from Highway 130.
This infrared view of the active lava from the June 27th vent shows that the area is still quite hot and the tube location is possibly obscured although the few hotter strands may be indicators of the tube's location. Image of N flank Puu Oo C vent and Mid slope flow field. Kilauea, eruption, June 27 flow, EP61, flow front, crack system, Pahoa, Puu Oo, MERZ, FLIR
Pahoehoe lava lobes are active at the leading edge of a breakout that began Feb. 21.
These pahoehoe flows appear bluish with dense, glassy crusts. These lavas are generally observed later in the life of an inflated paøhoehoe flow. The degassed nature of the lava promotes the formation of solid glass, rather than bubbly, crusts. The bluish color may be the result of the natural iron and magnesium in the lava.
PuÔu 'O'o Crater again hosts a small lava lake near its southern edge.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists took a closer look at active lava flows northeast of Pu’u ‘O’o vent as the front of the flow near Pahoa showed no sign of resuming lava activity.
Scientists released new photos of the lava and of the effort Tuesday by geologists to measure lava flowing through new lava tubes that developed from a flow that began on June 27th.
Since March 12, the lava that moved to within a half-mile of Pahoa has been inactive and the nearest active breakouts to Highway 130 are 8.7 miles from the town, near Pu’u ‘O’o.
The crater also developed a small lava lake following a vent collapse.
Geologists are using thermal imagery and very low frequency radio waves to estimate the lava in the tubes.
The breakouts continue in three areas northeast of Pu’u ‘O’o.
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A breakout that started on Feb. 21 on the northern flank of Pu’u ‘O’o is spreading at the northeastern base of the cone.
Another breakout near Kahaale’a has reached a forest and is burning trees.
Breakouts about 3 to 4 miles northeast of Pu’u ‘O’o have become inactive, while a small set of new breakouts have become active in the same area.
Scientists also released images of blue lava flow, which appear bluish with dense, glassy crusts. The color may be the result of natural iron and magnesium in the lava.
