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1 May 2003
May Day at Kohola breakouts
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| Left. Small breakout from inflating
flow moves downslope, slowing where gradient decreases at front of stream.
Width of front, about 1.5 m. 0543:51. Right. Close-up of gnarly
front of stream 26 seconds later, crumpled by compression as lava slows.
0544:17. |
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| Left. Couple enjoys Kohola breakout at
sunrise. 0554. Right. Front of breakout, slowing as it meets flat
surface and developing large-scale wrinkles by overriding slower lava.
Width of view, about 2 m. 0558. |
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| Left. Visitors watch breakout. Shorts
are not recommended; a slip on the glassy lava flow can leave legs scarred
for life. Flashlights in foreground are de rigueur for anyone venturing to
area near darkness. 0559. Right. Three well attired visitors enjoy breakout soon after sunup. 0608. |
3 May 2003
Saturday morning at the lava
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| Left. Stream of lava pours from
inflating tumulus (left of image) near end of park trail. Visitor in
background seems oblivious to events just out of sight. 0543. Right.
Ground-level view of front of same stream, spreading out on flat between tumuli. Note slight reflection of incandescence on shiny surface in
foreground. Width of incandescent lava, about 2 m. 0545. |
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| Left. Toe forming on flat surface from
already inflating front of same stream as that shown above. Width of toe,
about 1 m. 0547. Right. Entire stream shown in previous images,
looking upstream. Previous images were of left bank of stream on flat where
stream is broadest. Now front of stream is pouring into crack on surface of
older part of flow. Width of crack, about 50 cm. 0550. |
9 May 2003
Tiny hornitos at Son of Cookie Monster
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| Left. Tiny hornitos growing at Son of
Cookie Monster skylight near vent for Mother's Day flow. Ceramic tube
previously used to sample gas from skylight has outer diameter of 3 cm.
Skylight was open two weeks ago, when lava sample was obtained, but was
roofed over last week. Now, small spattering vents are building tiny
hornitos, affectionately termed carlitos for a former HVO staff member, on
the roof of skylight. Right. Closer view of most active
carlito shows ceramic gas-sampling tube encased in oozed lava. Though
problematic if tube can be used to sample gas again--it might be plugged or
too hot for rubber stopper needed while sampling, we'll try. |
16 May 2003
Breakouts in Kohola under Full Flower Moon
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| Left. Small breakouts near western
margin of Kohola arm of Mother's Day flow, about 550 m from Paliuli. In
background is fume from main Mother's Day flow on Pulama pali. 0544. Right.
Breakout area under dawning sky. 0536. |
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| Left. Streaming breakout on steep
slope near margin of Kohola in same area as above. Stream is about 1 m
wide. 0550. Right. Close-up of twisting, folding crust forming on
surface of stream similar to that to left. Slightly blurred owing to heat
shimmer. Width of image, about 40 cm. 0532. |
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| Left. Snout of small breakout rapidly
descending steep slope and oozing into crack. Folds develop as lava slows
on gentler slope. Width of stream, about 1 m. 0552. Right. Lava
moving down steep slope into crack hidden from view. Note stretched bubbles
as well as developing wrinkles in incipient crust. Width of incandescent
lava, about 1 m. 0553. |
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| Left. Incandescent crack and tiny skylight
near Upper Son of Cookie Monster skylight on southwest apron of Pu`u `O`o.
Note glove used during sampling of lava from skylight. 0827. Right.
View from helicopter of channeled `a`a flow at about the 800-foot elevation
on Pulama pali. This is part of main Mother's Day flow, east of Kohola arm
of the flow. Length of `a`a, about 100 m. 1106. |
17 May 2003
Gnarly lava in the Kohola
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| Left. Daybreak overshadows tiny
breakout in Kohola arm of Mother's Day flow about 550 m from Paliuli. 0533. Right.
Sluggish breakout with thick, wrinkling crust in same area as shown in left
image. Width of lava, about 1 m. 0537. |
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| Left. Thick, twisting crust gives
gnarly appearance to sluggish breakout. Such crust, often called sharkskin,
forms on relatively cool lava that has been stored in inflating flow before
seeing daylight. Width of view, about 1.5 m. 0538. Right. Bulging,
gnarly breakout, with lava barely able to move, oozes from crack in crust.
Width of view, about 2 m. 0540. |
19 May 2003
No lava? Why not a sunrise instead?
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| Left. Sunrise over Kohola arm of
Mother's Day flow. No lava visible in the Kohola, but a gorgeous sunrise
substitutes. 0536. Right. Same scene with wider view. 0537. |
21 May 2003
New ocean entry at Highcastle
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| Left. Looking northeast across black
sand beach of Highcastle, becoming covered by lava in Highcastle lobe of
Mother's Day flow. Many active breakouts are visible as lava slowly moves
across black sand, which was made by lava entering water in past year.
0527. Right. One tongue of lava on beach just entering surf. 0532. |
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| Left. Satiny surface of lava welling
from small tube at top of Highcastle sea cliff. This lava started to
trickle down cliff (right view) about 2 minutes later. Width of view, about
2 m. 0536. Right. Lava descending Highcastle sea cliff, fed by
breakout in left image. 0541. |
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| Left. Narrow channel of lava at brink
of sea cliff at Highcastle. Black sand beach is below cliff, becoming
covered with lava. 0550. Right. Breakout 8 m inland of sea cliff.
Width of stream, about 0.8 m. 0555. |
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| Left. Looking southwest along
Highcastle beach. West Highcastle lava delta, with large tumulus forming
skyline, in distance. Note that lava covering beach abuts against lava
delta. Narrow trickles of lava on 10-m-high sea cliff to right. 0600. Right.
Crashing surf has lava in its sights. 0603. |
22 May 2003
Lava on Highcastle beach
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| Left. Lava flow on Highcastle beach is
so sluggish and crusted that it has only a few incandescent points, barely
visible in lower left in this dawn show. 0532. Right. Lava at front
of beach, thickening and trying to start lava delta into water. 0557. |
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| Left. New tip of lava flow on
Highcastle beach, breaking out and trying, like its neighbor to west (shown
above right), to form delta. 0600. Right. Looking southwest across
lava-covered Highcastle beach. Compare with next-to-last image in
yesterday's album. Person gives scale on top of sea cliff just beyond lava
trickle, which feeds small surface flow. West Highcastle and its large
tumulus in background. 0602. |
23 May 2003
Lava at, near, and far from Highcastle
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| Left. Steam and glow indicate three
main places where lava is entering ocean off front of new beach-covering
flow at Highcastle. 0524. Right. Same area that glows in left
image. Each entry cluster waxes and wanes unpredictably. This one, the
westernmost, dominated for a few minutes before losing luster and giving
way to the easternmost cluster. 0526. |
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| Left. Lava toe glistens in sunlight
520 m inland from inactive West Highcastle lava delta. Lava is in
southwestern arm of Highcastle lobe--the lobe that feeds the Highcastle
beach activity. Width of toe, 50 cm. 0604. Right. Another toe in
same area. Note flake picked up from underlying surface and hanging on
front of toe, just right of vertical crease in center of image. Width of
toe, about 75 cm. 0605. |
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| Left. Lava toes in same area, well
lighted by sun. Youngest toe is abutting against and flowing around right
end of slightly older toe. Broadband viewers can see development of these
toes in video below. Width of view, about 1.5 m. 0607. Right.
Same two toes as in left image, shown in context with oozing lava farther
upstream. 0608. |
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| Left. Aerial view of steaming
Highcastle entry, adjacent to much larger West Highcastle lava delta (lower
left), currently inactive. Light gray Highcastle lobe of Mother's Day flow
visible from sea cliff inland to and above Paliuli, prominent low scarp
near top of image. 0921. Right. Long-dead log overrun by lava along
eastern margin of flow field above Pulama pali. Log has burned away where
covered by lava. 1158. |
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| Left. Narrow skylight, widened
somewhat from its early form (see image taken on May 16) and now known as
Cookie Monster Crack Skylight. Lava was sampled through this skylight, from
a depth of 2.5 m. This area is becoming increasingly treacherous. 1011. Right.
Small hornitos (carlitos), encrusted with sublimates, near Cookie Monster
Crack Skylight. Each hornito is several tens of centimeters high. |
25 May 2003
Looking west at lava-covered Highcastle beach
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| Left. Looking west across lava flow
covering Highcastle beach. Laze rises from entry points along front of
flow, which is building new land into water beyond former beach. Compare
with last image of May 22 to recognize seaward growth of flow. West
Highcastle lava delta, with broad, high tumulus, in background. Person
silhouetted against water near left edge of image gives scale. 0629. Right.
Breakout on surface of flow covering beach. People above sea cliff, and
lone person on flow near breakout, give scale. Note drapery on old sea
cliff, some dating from this event and some formed by early short-lived
flows. 0626. |
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| Left. Optically zoomed view of lava at
front of seaward-growing flow. Height of lava cascade, about 3-4 m. 0279. Right.
Another optically zoomed view of more distant entry, with several dribbles
falling vertically into surf zone. Height of falls, about 3-4 m. 0290. |
29 May 2003
Breakouts near Highcastle entry area
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| Left. Early sunrise dwarfs small glow
from ocean entry at Highcastle. 0526. Right. Maximum intensity of
sunrise. Glow at entry point now diminished and replaced by low cloud of
laze. 0529. |
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| Left. Lava flows from breakout point
near right side of image and sweeps around bend, developing a wrinkled
crust near left side of image. Width of image, 3 m. This and subsequent
images are about 50 m inland of top of sea cliff at Highcastle entry. 0540. Right.
Worm's-eye view of advancing breakout. This is front of breakout shown to
left. Width of active front, 1.5 m. 0541. |
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| Left. This breakout is spreading to
both left and right, tearing thin crust apart. Breakout was advancing
rapidly toward camera, too. See first two videos taken today for action. Width of image, about 1 m. 0545. Right.
Another breakout drops into depression between two older pahoehoe toes.
Widest part of incandescence, about 0.8 m. 0555. |
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| Left. Close (and hot!) view of lava.
Note stretched and torn slivers of crust, small bubbles, and sagging lines
that eventually developed into wrinkled crust. Width of view, 40 cm. 0559. Right.
Lava gushing from under crust along front of Highcastle lobe. Note large,
oval bubble at top of right toe. See last two videos taken today for
further development of this gush. Width of view, 1 m. 0603. |
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| Left. Crust on surface of breakout has
been raised to form pinnacle 50-75 cm high. This pinnacle slowly collapsed
a minute or two later. 0606. Right. Three little toes head for top
of sea cliff. Sadly, they didn't make it, for the distance of 40 m was too
far. Width of breakout front, about 2 m. 0619. |
30 May 2003
Potential and real destruction
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| Left. Incandescence in roof of
Mother's Day lava tube near former Cookie Monster skylight indicates
thinning and weakening that could lead to collapse to form new skylight.
Disaster is waiting to happen for anyone venturing into this area. 1003. Right.
Dark brown areas in left half of image indicate part of 4,000-acre burn
that took place on May 28-29. View looks west from near Pu`u `O`o and shows
Napau Crater in right center, with narrow, dark lava flow from January 30,
1997. Other bare areas are lava flows covered with fallout from Pu`u `O`o
fountains in 1983-1986. Crack in lower right is down-dropped trough
resembling Great Crack on Kilauea's southwest rift zone. 0944 |
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| Standing dead trees surrounded by cooling
lava that broke out of Mother's Day tube at 2400-foot elevation. This
breakout started the large fire on May 28 that still continues. 1103 and 1158. |
29 May 2003
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May 29, 2003; 0545. Spreading and advancing breakout, the same as that shown in
0545 still image for today. Width of view, about 2 m.
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May 29, 2003; 0544. Closer view of spreading and
advancing breakout shown above. Width of view, about 0.6 m.
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May 29, 2003; 0603. Rapidly moving and changing breakout in Highcastle lobe. Still taken today at 0603 is of this breakout.
Width of view, about 2.5 m.
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May 29, 2003; 0604. Continuation and further development of rapidly moving and changing breakout in Highcastle lobe.
Still taken today at 0603 is of this breakout.
Width of view, about 2.5 m.
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23 May 2003
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May 23, 2003; 0606. Two converging toes, the same as those shown in
last two still images for today. Width of view, about 1.5 m.
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Map of flows from Pu`u `O`o: 16 May 2003
Map shows lava flows erupted during 1983-present activity of Pu`u `O`o
and Kupaianaha (see
large map). Red colors, both dark and light, denote Mother's Day flow, which
began erupting on May 12, 2002 and continues to the present. The darkest color
represents flows active since January 21, 2003.
Most recent--and ongoing--activity has produced two flows, one along western
edge of flow field and one slightly farther east. Kohola flow, along western
margin, entered sea late on Valentine's Day to form short-lived Kohola ocean
entry. This flow shortened the road still more. Visitors now can drive to Holei Sea Arch, 1.1 km from Kohola flow, and walk
to see flow. Breakouts have been visible in various parts of Kohola flow,
shifting from time to time across width and length of flow.
Other dark red flow is main active part of Mother's Day flow. Fed by
breakouts from lava tube in main Mother's Day flow, it advanced along eastern
margin of main flow and down Pulama pali and Paliuli. Western of two forks below
Paliuli dripped over sea cliff at Highcastle on May 19, 2003, after map was
made.
Lava from earlier, pre-January 21, 2003 Mother's Day flow (light red) reached sea at West Highcastle early on July 19, at Wilipe`a early on
July 21, and at Highcastle on August 8. From near southwest base of Pu`u `O`o, Mother's Day flow passes along west side of flow field and into forest, where it started large wildfire in May that continued into late July. By June 10,
Mother's Day flow had reached base
of Paliuli, the steep slope and cliff below Pulama pali and just above coastal flat. At base of Paliuli, Mother's Day flow abruptly spread
laterally in series of small budding flows to cover an area nearly 2 km
wide, gradually moving seaward until West Highcastle and Wilipe`a lobes
finally reached water and started building lava deltas. Activity at West
Highcastle ended in early August, but entry began soon thereafter at Highcastle,
eventually burying tiny kipuka of Chain of Craters Road. Wilipe`a entry
died away slowly and had ended by mid-August. Highcastle and neighboring
Highcastle Stairs entries ended on about August 23. For a time there were no
active entries. Then Wilipe`a was reactivated on September 3 but stopped in
December. West Highcastle likewise renewed activity on September
16-17, died away during night of September 18-19, and returned soon
thereafter to continue through March 21. East arm of Mother's Day flow
branched from Highcastle lobe in late October and sent three fingers into ocean
at Highcastle on November 15, West Lae`apuki on November 19, and Lae`apuki on
November 20. Lae`apuki entries had stopped by November 29. If this sounds
like soap opera, the truth is even more confusing than the simplified version
of activity given here.
Eruption-viewing opportunities change constantly, refer to the HVO home page for
current information. Those readers planning a visit to Kilauea or Mauna Loa volcanoes can get much useful
information from Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
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