09-10-2014, 06:47 AM
quote:
Originally posted by DanielP
My biggest question is; does the HVO crew expect that the future flows from Pu'uO'o will be heading the way of this flow (North/Northeast) or do they just have no idea.
I would guess that that is the most likely outcome for the immediate future. During the earlier phases of Pu'u O'o, and past eruptions from Mauna Ulu, a broad flow field typically develops where the initial flow follows the surface topography. Subsequent breakouts from the vent or the established tube will generate flows that may "flank" the initial flow or, eventually, follow a new topographic drainage near (in this case likely north of) the initial flow (that has established a new topographic high). The current flow within the cracks throws a bit of a wrinkle into the mix - if, on interruption of the tube flow, they become a topographic depression rather than a high point, they could divert the flow towards the south to continue paralleling the rift zone farther to the east. But there are a lot of other unquantifiable "what ifs" in the picture as well.