10-16-2009, 01:51 PM
This is getting interesting. Although the lava coming down the pali is catching the most interest, there has been some activity that I think is interesting. There is lava in the hole in the caldera that keeps going up and down. Lately it appears to be trying to come up. HVO introduced a new term in the last few days: "stoping". No, they didn't spell "stopping" wrong. Stoping appears to be a process in which molten magma rises through the Earth’s crust and shatters the surrounding rocks. The rocks then sink, making room for the magma to rise. Great word for Scrabble if you only have one "P"!
So, it has been stoping through the walls of the vent, it sounds like. I would imagine it takes a lot of pressure for magma to shatter rocks.
Could lava rise through the vent and begin filling the caldera floor? It sounds like it is trying hard to make its way up the vent. Coupled with the action at the pali, things are getting interesting. Not Thansgiving Eve Breakout interesting.....yet. But interesting.
So, it has been stoping through the walls of the vent, it sounds like. I would imagine it takes a lot of pressure for magma to shatter rocks.
Could lava rise through the vent and begin filling the caldera floor? It sounds like it is trying hard to make its way up the vent. Coupled with the action at the pali, things are getting interesting. Not Thansgiving Eve Breakout interesting.....yet. But interesting.