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Saturday 1 December 2012

KILAUEA: FIRE MEETS THE SEA


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Photos: Kilauea Lava Reaches the Sea
By
National Geographic News, 30 November 2012.

Into the Sea

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A spectacular natural phenomenon was on display early this week as lava from a vent in Hawaii's Kilauea volcano flowed into the ocean, sending up plumes of steam as it made contact with the waves.

Though lava can still be viewed from Kalapana near the Big Island's Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, ocean entry is no longer occurring, according to the National Park Service.

Sea of Fire

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The lava travelled 7 miles (11 kilometres) from Kilauea’s Pu'u O'o vent to the ocean. When lava reaches the water, it cools and hardens, forming a lava delta that can be dangerous to nearby onlookers, according to Reuters.

The news service reported that no communities on the Big Island were threatened by the lava flow.

Volcanic Flare

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A burst of volcanic activity erupts from Kilauea’s crater in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park on November 27.

The volcano has been erupting continuously for nearly 30 years. No major damage has been suffered by a town since 1986, according to Reuters.

Fiery Encounter

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“Ocean entries are beautiful but dangerous,” said Janet Babb, spokeswoman for the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, in a statement reported by Reuters. She warned that the steam could be more hazardous than it appears.

Point of Contact

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A plume of smoke billows where lava from Kilauea meets the sea in this aerial photo taken November 27.

Top image: Pictures of Kilauea volcano lava meeting the sea taken in September 2012 (see related post).

[Source: National Geographic News. Edited. Top image added.]



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