Friday, July 29, 2016

Sizzling lava hits the water -- at last

 

begin quote from:

  • 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.
    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.
    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.
    Hide Caption
    5 of 9
    13698211_913503395462322_3467769117208271193_o
    13719491_913499978795997_7242297890308220545_o
    13735713_913505198795475_4128332571383514827_o
    13730948_913509335461728_6323755748084795146_o
    13708286_913509808795014_8332759984727437887_o
    13731053_913508922128436_6091442033624297811_o
    13738198_913506668795328_7818154192058345161_o
    13737492_913509995461662_3490912518317782778_o
    13738346_913508392128489_1320775848599160681_o

    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.

     

at

No comments:

Post a Comment