The Hawaiian blistering spot producing constant , gentle irruption of low - viscosity mafic lava . For years , the Pu’u ‘ O’o volcanic crater on Kilauea has been flowing south to the coast and sea , but a newfangled lava menstruum , Kahauale’a 2 , is instead feed nor'-east into the forests .
Lava flow from Pu’u ‘ O’o crater into ohia lehua woods . Photography credit : US Geological Survey / Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
The behaviour of lava depends on its chemical composition : low - silica content lavas are mafic lavas , while high - silica content lavas are felsic . Mafic lava are humiliated viscosity , fluid fluid that release gas more easily and have consequently gentler eruptions . In contrast , felsic lavas are more viscous and less runny , but trap gas , establish pressure into more red outbreak . The chemical composing is find out by the geologic descent of the lavas — the mantle and pelagic freshness is mafic , while continental crust is felsic . accordingly , vehement eruptions like the notorious Mount Saint Helens are associated with subduction zones , while island volcanoes like Hawaii are generally more beautiful than explosively risky .
The Hawaiian chain of island volcano . Photography recognition : NASA
While mafic lava are slow - moving , that does n’t mean they ’re entirely harmless . Lava flow can be fantastically hard to blockade or divert ( it is possible with epic quantity of sea water , but that ’s a taradiddle for another solar day ) , so can induce large amounts of damage . The new flow is not immediately jeopardise any buildings , but if it keep in the same direction it will eventually reach out communities farther to the northeast .
Eruptions also produce S dioxide gasolene . This natural gas reacts with oxygen and piddle vapor , producing diminutive droplets of sulphuric superman : volcanic fog , or vog . The measure of vog can vary over time — the Kilauea vent produced an norm of 140 metric tons of sulfur dioxide a day in 2003 through 2007 , but a relatively colossal 800 measured tons per day in December 2009 .
The Kahauale’a 2 lava stream is slow upgrade to the northeast . picture taking acknowledgment : NASA / EO .
While the Kilauea lava flows had previously been tread a well - weary itinerary to the sea , this young flow is manoeuvre in a new direction . As the lava advances , it burn the forest , producing smoking . The flow is creeping along , only advancing about 600 meters since November . When subterranean pressures change , and the crown inflates , lava surges out of the crater in a raw breakout . The jailbreak start from the volcanic crater , and pushes for some clip before advancing the upstage rate of flow front .
Head over to theEarth observation tower for an interactive opinion of the onward motion between February 2nd and March 11th , or study about thegeologic alteration over time of a volcanic island .
Daily Newsletter
Get the best tech , skill , and polish word in your inbox daily .
intelligence from the futurity , delivered to your present .
