Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Aerial Views of the Main Volcano Components




The photos above are from USGS Hawaii Volcanoes Observatory site and are excellent aerials showing the three most important volcano components involved with changing magma into lava and gases: The flow fields from the Pu`u O`o down the mountain six and a half miles to Waikupanaha where molten lava has been pouring into the ocean for about nineteen months straight(1st image), the massive vog producer - Pu`u O`o Crater to the east of Halema`uma`u (2nd image), and the Halema`uma`u Crater within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, venting more magma gases and ash through the new puka on the crator floor (3rd image).

The exciting lava shows this past four days continues but the lava action is a little more subdued at the moment. Visitors to the Civil Defense viewing areas (there are now two separate view locations) are continuing to witness surface lava and occasionally lava-ignited forest fires, as well as the large ocean entry lava plume; best seen at dusk and after dark, which is near 6:30 PM.

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