Posted at 8:11 p.m., Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Change seen in lava erupting from Kilauea volcano
Associated Press
VOLCANO, Hawai'i — A change in the eruption of lava from Kilauea volcano was reported Wednesday night by the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.Molten rock began erupting from the south flank of a perched lava channel earlier in the day, nearly directly over an eruption site that became active July 21.
The change caused lava levels in the channel to drop an estimated 30 feet or more.
Two new lava flows developed, with one advancing half a mile before stalling, said scientists, who predicted the flows would probably stagnate over the next few days.
Although there was no immediate danger, the observatory advised residents of the Royal Gardens subdivision to keep informed about the lava over the next few days.
Dozens of homes in Royal Gardens were among the close to 200 structures destroyed by lava since Kilauea's current eruption began in 1983.
The lava channel is located 11 miles above Pahoa Village and surrounding rural suburbs. An average of 500,000 cubic meters of molten rock has emerged daily since it first broke through in July. It moved in a different direction from previous Kilauea lava that long flowed into the ocean. Fingers of lava extended as far as 3.5 miles northeast from the eruption.
The elevated channel was created when lava was blocked and then overflowed its banks in layers that quickly cooled, forming a raised bank along the side.
