Lava seen from summit to ocean at Kilauea
USGS / HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
Geologists in the field Monday night observed lava crossing the stretch of land between the “emergency” gravel road and the sea cliff. This photograph shows the flow front a short time before lava reached the ocean.
USGS / HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
This photograph looks towards the ocean, from a spot along the west margin of the flow, showing the ocean entry plume just minutes after lava first reached the water Tuesday morning.
USGS / HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
The U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and National Park Service Jaggar Museum (foreground) overlook the active lava lake within Halemaumau Crater in this Wednesday photo.
USGS / HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
The summit lava lake in Halemaumau Crater continuously circulates, with lava upwelling on one side of the lake and downwelling on the opposite side, often resulting in vigorous spattering (bright spot on left side of lake). As it circulates, sections of the dark-colored, semi-solid lake surface pull apart, revealing the incandescent molten lava beneath and creating the appearance of a jigsaw puzzle. The silhouette of Mauna Loa is visible in upper right.
USGS / HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY
Lava from the 61G flow continues into the ocean along Kīlauea’s south coast. Wednesday’s field crew also noted active pāhoehoe breakouts a few yards upslope from the coast and road.
Kilauea’s lava show is visible from the ocean to the caldera at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
The 61G flow continues to go over a sea cliff at the Kamokuna ocean entry on the coast within the park, while the lava lake at Halemaumau has risen to a level where spatter can sometimes be seen from the Jaggar Museum overlook.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists reported this morning that the lake level was about 77 feet below the floor of Halemaumau.
Photos posted on the observatory website show the lake circulating and sending spatter into the air.
At the ocean entry, the flow is about 20 feet wide sending several fingers of lava over a cliff into the sea below. A lava bench is beginning to form below the cliff.
Geologists reported that another lobe of lava is advancing along the west margin of the flow front and is approaching the emergency access road and the ocean.
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It is possible to hike to the ocean entry along the access road from the Kalapana side and the national park.
However the hike is about 10 miles roundtrip and is not for everyone.
Park rangers said people planning to hike should bring water, appropriate clothing and footwear and a flashlight if they plan to stay after dark.
There are also hazards in hiking over sharp, uneven lava and the fumes generated by the lava hitting the ocean are acidic and contain fine volcanic particles that can irritate the skin, eyes and lungs.
