Posted on 12/02/2005 9:14:27 PM PST by Daralundy
HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, Hawaii - About 44 acres of coastline collapsed into the ocean this week, setting loose a glowing stream of lava that shot out from the newly exposed cliffside 45 feet above the water. The plume, 6 feet in diameter, sent up a tower of steam as it hit the water and began forming a ramp of new land.
The collapse of solidified lava shelf and sea cliff Monday was the largest since Kilauea Volcano began its current eruption in 1983.
Jim Kauahikaua, scientist-in-charge of the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, said a collapse warning was issued in June because the shelf had become large and had formed cracks. Large collapses had happened in the area before.
Rumblings tipped scientists to Monday's collapse, which took about 4 1/2 hours. Even at that relatively slow pace, the effect was spectacular.
"The cliff just caved away like a glacier," said park spokesman Jim Gale. "It just sheared off that old wall. There's this gigantic steam plume and you see the red just falling down _ an incredible fire hose display."
The collapse sent out globs of lava and head-size boulders. Sheets of volcanic glass called limu o Pele, after the Hawaiian goddess of fire, and thin strands of volcanic glass known as Pele's hair were found 1,800 feet inland.
About 44 acres smaller now.
The photo looks like it was 44 acres of vertical land.
That, and the fact that I had a date last night - it's The Apocalypse!
Leni
"Actually, on an island, if enough coastline falls away, you are left with only ocean."
True, but this seemed like a pretty big island. Besides, my comment was meant to be cleverly humorous, not topographically correct. :)
This is awesome.
Hope someone filmed it.
"I had a friend once that was a photographer and he was standing on the cliffs over the sea where the flows were coming out trying to get some awesome pictures of the hot lave pouring into the sea. That shelf also gave way and he was never seen again...What a way to go , no?"
OOOUCH! Wouldn't want to be in his shoes.
Nice picture!
Scoffers are also a "sign of the times".
The ongoing lava flow, which caused the collapse, will fill in the gap and then some. This side of the island is a growing edge.
44 acres = 1,916,640 sq ft. Not likely it's all gone into the sea!
Re: "New Madrid!"
Nope, deep in the non-seismatic heart of Texas!
Who is talking about that?
Come'on a 1000' wave generated that will travel thousands of miles because a big chuck of relatively small island fell into the sea. How far can it fall? A few hundred feet?
It think those talking about this have been watching too many Hollywood scifi movies.
Sorry, chum... The National Geographic Channel, Discovery Channel and History Channel, old sport. Pick your bone with them...
They voted for GORE and Kerry....God doesn't like that.
cool, in a hot sort of way.
good point
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