Friday, July 29, 2016

Sizzling lava hits the water -- at last

 

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  • Sizzling lava hits the water -- at last

    Lava from Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano reaches Pacific Ocean

    By David Williams, CNN
    Updated 9:52 AM ET, Fri July 29, 2016
    The lava flow is about 66 feet wide at the point where it tumbles off a cliff into the water.
    Photos:
    The lava flow is about 66 feet wide at the point where it tumbles off a cliff into the water.
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    Tour boat captain Kanoa Jones says sunrise is the best time to photograph the lava because the sun is at your back.
    Photos:
    Tour boat captain Kanoa Jones says sunrise is the best time to photograph the lava because the sun is at your back.
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    Kilauea has been active since 1983. In 2014, a lava flow led to the evacuation of the village of Pahoa.
    Photos:
    Kilauea has been active since 1983. In 2014, a lava flow led to the evacuation of the village of Pahoa.
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    The U.S. Geological Survey says this lava flow poses no immediate threat to nearby communities.
    Photos:
    The U.S. Geological Survey says this lava flow poses no immediate threat to nearby communities.
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    The USGS warns that it can be dangerous and even deadly to get too close to the lava flow.
    Photos:
    The USGS warns that it can be dangerous and even deadly to get too close to the lava flow.
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    Photographer David Ford got a closeup look at the lava flowing from Kilauea Volcano during a sunrise boat tour.
    Photos:
    Photographer David Ford got a closeup look at the lava flowing from Kilauea Volcano during a sunrise boat tour.
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    Ford says they sailed about 200 feet away from the lava, off the coast of Puna in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. He says he could smell sulfur and hear a sizzle as lava fell into the Pacific Ocean.
    Photos:
    Ford says they sailed about 200 feet away from the lava, off the coast of Puna in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. He says he could smell sulfur and hear a sizzle as lava fell into the Pacific Ocean.
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    Lava has been flowing out of the volcano since May 25.
    Photos:
    Lava has been flowing out of the volcano since May 25.
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    The U.S. Geological Survey says the lava flowed 6.5 miles before reaching the Pacific.
    Photos:
    The U.S. Geological Survey says the lava flowed 6.5 miles before reaching the Pacific.
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    The lava flow is about 66 feet wide at the point where it tumbles off a cliff into the water.
    Photos:
    The lava flow is about 66 feet wide at the point where it tumbles off a cliff into the water.
    Hide Caption
    5 of 9
    Tour boat captain Kanoa Jones says sunrise is the best time to photograph the lava because the sun is at your back.
    Photos:
    Tour boat captain Kanoa Jones says sunrise is the best time to photograph the lava because the sun is at your back.
    Hide Caption
    6 of 9
    Kilauea has been active since 1983. In 2014, a lava flow led to the evacuation of the village of Pahoa.
    Photos:
    Kilauea has been active since 1983. In 2014, a lava flow led to the evacuation of the village of Pahoa.
    Hide Caption
    7 of 9
    The U.S. Geological Survey says this lava flow poses no immediate threat to nearby communities.
    Photos:
    The U.S. Geological Survey says this lava flow poses no immediate threat to nearby communities.
    Hide Caption
    8 of 9
    The USGS warns that it can be dangerous and even deadly to get too close to the lava flow.
    Photos:
    The USGS warns that it can be dangerous and even deadly to get too close to the lava flow.
    Hide Caption
    9 of 9
    Photographer David Ford got a closeup look at the lava flowing from Kilauea Volcano during a sunrise boat tour.
    Photos:
    Photographer David Ford got a closeup look at the lava flowing from Kilauea Volcano during a sunrise boat tour.
    Hide Caption
    1 of 9
    Ford says they sailed about 200 feet away from the lava, off the coast of Puna in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. He says he could smell sulfur and hear a sizzle as lava fell into the Pacific Ocean.
    Photos:
    Ford says they sailed about 200 feet away from the lava, off the coast of Puna in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. He says he could smell sulfur and hear a sizzle as lava fell into the Pacific Ocean.
    Hide Caption
    2 of 9
    Lava has been flowing out of the volcano since May 25.
    Photos:
    Lava has been flowing out of the volcano since May 25.
    Hide Caption
    3 of 9
    The U.S. Geological Survey says the lava flowed 6.5 miles before reaching the Pacific.
    Photos:
    The U.S. Geological Survey says the lava flowed 6.5 miles before reaching the Pacific.
    Hide Caption
    4 of 9
    The lava flow is about 66 feet wide at the point where it tumbles off a cliff into the water.
    Photos:
    The lava flow is about 66 feet wide at the point where it tumbles off a cliff into the water.
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    Story highlights

    • Lava from Kilauea Volcano is flowing into the ocean
    • Flow poses no immediate threat to nearby communities
    (CNN)The Big Island of Hawaii is getting a little bigger as lava from the Kilauea Volcano flows into the Pacific Ocean.
    The 6.5 mile-long lava flow has been dribbling down the south flank of Kilauea since May, according to the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. It reached the ocean on Tuesday morning.
    The USGS said the flow is about 20 meters (66 feet) wide where it spills over the cliff into the sea.
    The red-hot lava creates huge plumes of steam as it hits the water and begins cooling into rock, delighting locals and eager tourists.
    Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, is part of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
    Kanoa Jones has a full-time job as a mechanic and welder, but has taken a leave of absence to run lava boat tours.
    He's gotten a permit for his company and has been captaining his brother's boat, while he puts the finishing touches on his own vessel.
    "There's been people calling for a month now, trying to get in the boat," Jones said. He plans to start doing sunrise and sunset tours on Monday.
    Most days, Jones said, you could probably sail right up to the lava, but he keeps a safe distance.
    "Sometimes, if the lava's flowing heavy when it hits the water it could explode, but usually it's really mellow," he said adding that you can still feel the heat on the boat.
    David Ford rode near the lava flow in a different boat and said he could smell sulfur and hear a sizzle when the lava hit the water.
    "I have never seen an ocean entry from the ocean, and it was really cool to see from that angle, lower than a helicopter, and no cliff in the way as would happen if viewing from land," Ford said.
    You can get closer to the flow if you're willing to endure a tough hike.
    The USGS warns that getting too close can be extremely dangerous, and even deadly. The agency has released a pamphlet listing the risks from collapsing ledges, acid fumes, steam vents that can toss rocks and jets of hot lava -- not to mention the risk of heat stroke, sprained ankles and other injuries on the hike.
    Kilauea has been active since 1983, but this is the first time in three years that lava has reached the ocean.
    In June 2014, lava threatened the village of Pahoa, forcing residents to evacuate and destroying at least one home.
    There is no immediate threat to nearby communities.

     

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