Saturday, February 6, 2010

Inflation returning ~ Molten lava reaches coastal plane

(Click on the image for a larger size)
The USGS/HVO posted this image above, along with other detailed aerial and ground images of the current surface flow of lava, on their Kilauea Images page. But also checkout the other images on their site linked above to see what is happening there.

On one of the images (above) I added a note pointing out where Jack Thompson’s house is located. Thompson is the last resident still occupying, and living in, a home within the infamous Royal Gardens subdivision. Lava flows have been covering over portions of the subdivision for many years now. He has had molten lava approach close to his home on all sides over the years. Jack has a beautiful home and I hope he can withstand this latest onslaught of molten rock, which is now running down the slopes and burning forest only a few hundred feet away.

Out at the Hawaii County lava viewing area off the end of highway 130, visitors can still see smoke & lava in the distance. The USGS monitored Deformation had been registering deflation the last few days, which has slowed some of the intensity, but it continues and will likely respond with more intensity in the days ahead to the present inflation that started very early this morning:

The National Weather Service Honolulu has a high surf warning for all the Hawaii Islands. The other islands will see North/Northwest swells of 10 to 20 foot faces, while Hawaii may get some of it:
“SURF ALONG WEST FACING SHORES OF THE BIG ISLAND WILL BUILD TO HEIGHTS OF 7 TO 10 FEET TODAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT.” Might be some clean surf rides ovah thayr ;)

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