05-13-2007, 04:09 AM
Viewing lava is very dangerous right now, there are cracks in Lava from 16 acre chuck falling into ocean on Thursday!
http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/arti...ocal01.txt
Saturday, May 12, 2007 9:13 AM HST
About 16 acres are missing from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park after newly formed land collapsed into the ocean Thursday afternoon.
"Rock was just flying through the air," said Jim Gale, chief of interpretation for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, who noted the explosive display shows why people visiting the lava flow need to stay behind roped lines.
The collapse, which took place between 2:45 p.m. and 7:05 p.m. on the East Lae'apuki delta, about 21/2 miles past the end of Chain of Craters Road, occurred piecemeal. Each section that fell into the ocean generated a steam plume that ranged from 200 feet and 1,000 feet high, according to a news release from the U.S. Geological Survey.
"Visitors hiking out to surface flows inland of the lava delta, an arduous 8-mile roundtrip hike from the end of Chain of Craters Road, stopped in their tracks to watch the activity," said a news release sent late Friday by Gale. "Steam plumes shot 1,000 feet skyward, hurtling rocks inland."
The lava fragments were shattered by the explosive interaction between cold sea water and hot rock of the collapsing delta. Incandescent rock within the delta was exposed when each section collapsed, according to the USGS release.
"Staff closed the longer trails to the surface flows to prevent injuries from flying rocks," said the release from Gale. "Scientists from the Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory reported fist-sized rocks were tossed up to 450 feet inland from the edge of the embayment, and one rock 14 inches across was thrown nearly 400 feet inland."
An apron of rock debris now blankets a 3-acre area inland from the embankment.
Gale's release noted that "all visitors were evacuated from the area and viewed the collapse from a safe and distant viewing area."
A remote camera had been set to record other activity, so there may not be video of the actual collapse, Gale said.
Lava stopped flowing to the delta in March but the rock still contained an enormous amount of heat, Gale said. Such land movements have the potential to create a tsunami, he said. However, this collapse happened too gradually to move much water.
Lava continues to enter the ocean at Kamokuna, about 11/3 miles east of the area.
This is the same site where two of the largest lava delta collapses occurred during the ongoing eruption of Kilauea, which began in 1983. A 34-acre collapse happened in December 1996, and the largest recorded collapse happened in November 2005, when 44 acres of land slid into the ocean.
Large cracks, formed during Wednesday's collapse, cross the remaining portion of the lava delta as far as 100 feet inland from the new embankment. It is possible additional collapses may occur without warning, according to the release.
The sea cliff near the site remains closed by Hawaii Volcanoes National Park due to significant hazards. Visitors to the area are advised to stay behind the rope line, which is located a few hundred feet from the old sea cliff.
http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/arti...ocal01.txt
Saturday, May 12, 2007 9:13 AM HST
About 16 acres are missing from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park after newly formed land collapsed into the ocean Thursday afternoon.
"Rock was just flying through the air," said Jim Gale, chief of interpretation for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, who noted the explosive display shows why people visiting the lava flow need to stay behind roped lines.
The collapse, which took place between 2:45 p.m. and 7:05 p.m. on the East Lae'apuki delta, about 21/2 miles past the end of Chain of Craters Road, occurred piecemeal. Each section that fell into the ocean generated a steam plume that ranged from 200 feet and 1,000 feet high, according to a news release from the U.S. Geological Survey.
"Visitors hiking out to surface flows inland of the lava delta, an arduous 8-mile roundtrip hike from the end of Chain of Craters Road, stopped in their tracks to watch the activity," said a news release sent late Friday by Gale. "Steam plumes shot 1,000 feet skyward, hurtling rocks inland."
The lava fragments were shattered by the explosive interaction between cold sea water and hot rock of the collapsing delta. Incandescent rock within the delta was exposed when each section collapsed, according to the USGS release.
"Staff closed the longer trails to the surface flows to prevent injuries from flying rocks," said the release from Gale. "Scientists from the Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory reported fist-sized rocks were tossed up to 450 feet inland from the edge of the embayment, and one rock 14 inches across was thrown nearly 400 feet inland."
An apron of rock debris now blankets a 3-acre area inland from the embankment.
Gale's release noted that "all visitors were evacuated from the area and viewed the collapse from a safe and distant viewing area."
A remote camera had been set to record other activity, so there may not be video of the actual collapse, Gale said.
Lava stopped flowing to the delta in March but the rock still contained an enormous amount of heat, Gale said. Such land movements have the potential to create a tsunami, he said. However, this collapse happened too gradually to move much water.
Lava continues to enter the ocean at Kamokuna, about 11/3 miles east of the area.
This is the same site where two of the largest lava delta collapses occurred during the ongoing eruption of Kilauea, which began in 1983. A 34-acre collapse happened in December 1996, and the largest recorded collapse happened in November 2005, when 44 acres of land slid into the ocean.
Large cracks, formed during Wednesday's collapse, cross the remaining portion of the lava delta as far as 100 feet inland from the new embankment. It is possible additional collapses may occur without warning, according to the release.
The sea cliff near the site remains closed by Hawaii Volcanoes National Park due to significant hazards. Visitors to the area are advised to stay behind the rope line, which is located a few hundred feet from the old sea cliff.
Steve & Regina
Hawaiian Acres / North Lake Tahoe
'If you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there' - George Harrison
Hawaiian Acres / North Lake Tahoe
'If you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there' - George Harrison