(Distant surface lava flow - click on image to see the stars)After a surprisingly rainless afternoon, a starlight-studded evening out at the active lava viewing area on Monday allowed for hundreds of visitors to enjoy looking up to the distant expanse of surface lava, shown in the image above, as well as the strong lava plume glowing molten lava colors after dark. There was less lava visually seen pouring across the new bench of land into the sea than previous nights, but still spectacular.
Up on the Kilauea eruption zone inflation/deflation tiltmeters began recording a drop in magma pressure at around 7:30 PM, with continued decline this morning. This usually means that the plumbing system of lava will also drop in pressure. In this case meaning the molten lava surface breakout we have been watching flowing down the hills will diminish a little and in the next day or so the lava entering the ocean may also become less powerful. This cycle is fairly common. In the days to come the lava pressures will return, though occasionally there is a complete pause in visually seen molten lava during a deflation period event.
This morning, here on Hawaii Island’s most easterly point of land, skies are cloudy and carrying scattered showers pushed by somewhat cool northeast winds. I’m not sure what the surf condition are like, I may go check it out later.
Here’s a local news clip showing the start of the The 31st running, swimming and biking of the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii on Sunday October 11th. 2009
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