Random update on Big Island active lava eruptions

Kilauea Volcano: Both big active craters in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park continue to erupt.

The photo above was taken along the Halema`uma`u Crater rim near the Jaggar Museum November 22^nd

The sky was beginning to clear a little after a few days of voggy & rainy conditions.

Below is a photo taken last night and has notes on it explaining what is in the scene: Click on any of these images to open into a larger view mode.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory historical lava flow map; updated November 21^st, 2013:

This lava flow is being informally called Kahauale`a 2 by HVO staff, and has been slowly advancing northeast for about six months. The ocean entry lava began shutting down late August 2013 and has not returned thus thrusting all surface lava into the present flow front.

And above, a broader view showing the nearest homes and communities, Note that the community of Glenwood and the southwestern corner of Hawaiian Acres are about three-miles from the flow front, those areas are on higher elevation than the active lava. But downslope, the southeastern sections of Hawaiian Acres and Pahoa town are just a little over five and a half miles from the most active leading tip of this surface flow.

No one can predict whether the Kahauale`a 2 will continue this advancement for months to come and threaten communities and highways, cease tomorrow or rip open a new fissure and go somewhere else … History shows that only one thing that seems rather constant is the Hawaiian Island chain continues to grow and Pele is in charge.

Another shot from the other night of Halema`umu`u Crater,
Aloha
Leigh

 Links to all the USGS/HVO sites referenced can be found here