Scientists are warning that an explosive eruption of Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano is possible as the “lava lake” — which has been emptying through new rifts east of the crater — lowers to a point where groundwater can rush in which would then quickly turn to steam and explode.
From the USGS:
#HVO/#USGS Volcanic Activity Notice
for #Kilauea: Steady lowering of lava lake at summit of #KilaueaVolcano has raised potential for explosive eruptions in coming weeks. https://t.co/7sDZqcOJ5s @CivilDefenseHI will issue alerts if needed: https://t.co/uYm7YGqOmq #KilaueaErupts pic.twitter.com/2tPcrlxiZS— USGS Volcanoes? (@USGSVolcanoes) May 9, 2018
Scientists say conditions today are very similar to 1924 when the eruption sent “columns of ash and tons of rock that landed more than half a mile away.”
Geologists on Wednesday warned that the rapid lowering of a lava lake in Hawaii's #Kilauea Volcano has raised the potential for explosive eruptions in the coming weeks https://t.co/H1uQeHRJDS
— CNN Weather Center (@CNNweather) May 9, 2018
Here’s a 3D model of what’s going on inside the crater:
New 3D model of the summit lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater (Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaii). The lava lake is ~970 feet below the floor of Halema‘uma‘u Crater. https://t.co/OoaXdJDzND pic.twitter.com/WimDTohGlN
— USGS Volcanoes? (@USGSVolcanoes) May 10, 2018
Yesterday, a small landslide did cause this mini explosion as a taste of things to come:
Rockfall generates a short-lived explosion at Halema‘uma‘u crater, Hawaii, at 8:27 a.m. HST, May 9. Explosion not caused by the interaction of the lava lake with the water table. https://t.co/hd8FPsBVgf pic.twitter.com/pNUcJYep9y
— USGS Volcanoes? (@USGSVolcanoes) May 9, 2018
Recommended
And check out this video from a homeowner who captured this scene in his own backyard:
FIERY VOLCANO: A man took this video of lava spewing in his backyard on #Hawaii’s Big Island. The governor says he told the #WhiteHouse he thinks people will need federal help. pic.twitter.com/nmVa6xLAuO
— Shepard Smith (@ShepNewsTeam) May 8, 2018
More photos of the damage:
Severe ground cracks, burned vegetation at fissure 14 in Leilani Estates. https://t.co/OoIg5EVPcj pic.twitter.com/DacpLvtUsK
— USGS Volcanoes? (@USGSVolcanoes) May 10, 2018
Severe ground cracks, burned vegetation at fissure 14 in Leilani Estates. https://t.co/OoIg5EVPcj pic.twitter.com/DacpLvtUsK
— USGS Volcanoes? (@USGSVolcanoes) May 10, 2018
***
Related:
'INSANE video': Wall of lava slowly engulfs parked car near Hawaii’s Kilauea https://t.co/AA6df3qX9D
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) May 8, 2018
CNN gets mocked over explainer on why people can't stop lava https://t.co/kun6Ehm5Lv
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) May 9, 2018
HAHAHA! Even Chris Cillizza mocked CNN's explainer on lava https://t.co/UL9fKHYLWo
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) May 10, 2018
Join the conversation as a VIP Member