06-28-2014, 03:40 AM
Wow. This is way cool.. there's always been some sort of upper limit on how much stress that cone can handle. keep in mind that the way things are the lava held within it is essentially perched something like 500 feet above the surrounding landscape.. and the lava is hot in that it will melt the containing rock.. which itself is just 'frozen' lava.. i.e. it can 'thaw out' given the right conditions. What this event doesn't bode well for is any wish for the resumption of activity back towards the open ocean on the south side of kilauea. That is unless there's another breach of this type on the south flank of the edifice. otherwise this sorta seals the deal on the north side distribution system. As I said.. wow!