Massive Stream of Lava Plunges into Sea in Stunning New Video

[Judi Lynn]

By Tia Ghose, Senior Writer | January 31, 2017 04:27pm ET



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A stunning new video has captured a huge fire hose of lava streaming into the ocean at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

The stream of lava is currently pouring into the ocean from a sea cliff near Kamokuna on the Big Island of Hawaii, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). When this massive lava chute hits the cool seawater below, the result is explosive steam.

Striking images show what looks like a giant bucket of red paint pouring into the ocean, surrounded by plumes of steam, ash, debris and gas. The ensuing steam explosions, which occurred Jan. 28 and Jan. 29, have tossed molten lava high up into the air, with some bits of molten rock catapulted to twice the height of the sea cliff.

Yesterday (Jan. 30), a crack opened in the sea cliff above the lava tube which feeds the new lava stream. Volcanologists flying over the site used a special thermal-imaging camera to reveal the crack, which is now a scorching 428 degrees Fahrenheit (220 degrees Celsius), according to the USGS. On Jan. 28, volcanologists gingerly stepped onto the unstable surface to measure the crack, and found that it is 11.8 inches (30 centimeters) wide and cuts deeply into the new solidified lava laid down on the older sea cliff. This hot crack could be a sign that the entire sea cliff could come tumbling down, according to the USGS.





More:
http://www.livescience.com/57701-lava-firehose-steams-into-ocean.html?utm_source=notification

[PoiBoy]

1. Kamokuna ocean cliff collapses, killing spectacular lava hose...

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/34416623/kamokuna-cliff-collapses-killing-spectacular-lava-hose

No one was hurt during the collapse. In the moments before it happened, surveyors said they could hear grinding noises coming from the crack, and that part of the cliff was actually moving before it fell completely into the ocean below.

Geologists say that lava is no longer visible, though a constant steam plume and explosions from rock splatter indicate that it is still flowing into the sea.

"There's a lot of spatter that's being thrown upward from the explosive interaction with hot lava and cool seawater," said Babb. "But while they were out there they could not see any red lava."

The remaining portion of sea cliff is approximately 100 feet long and 16 feet wide, though geologists say it appears to be highly unstable and could collapse at any time.



The incredible beauty of Madame Pele and how quickly things can change... just glad everyone's safe...