Photo and Video Chronology - Kīlauea - March 15, 2003
Wilipe`a rope meets Ides of March
Tongue of Kohola flow has burned part of rope barrier established by national park to keep visitors off Wilipe`a lava delta (short distance left of view). Note loop of rope ash on flow surface. See first image of March 14 for overview of area just before flow surged seaward.
(Credit: , . Public domain.)
Photo showing tan dust thrown from narrow, preexisting crack during methane explosion 10 seconds after left image was taken. Explosion rolled across area, uplifting ground even under and across flow shown to left. Only fine sand-sized particles were emitted from cracks; no flames were seen, though flames came from cracks during later methane explosions in area.
(Credit: , . Public domain.)
Lava actively advancing across downed rope at site near where photographer is standing in upper left image. Looking east
(Credit: , . Public domain.)
Toes of lava spilling from front of flow tongue moving under rope just west of image to left. Soon after this image was taken, heated rope collapsed onto flow; its sagging remnant is shown in next images.
(Credit: , . Public domain.)
Lava moved swiftly from break in crust (near left side of image), crusted, and is now rapidly inflating on flat ground shown ahead of toes in upper right image.
(Credit: , . Public domain.)
Lava spills from base of inflated toe shown in left image. Camera location has changed slightly from that when left image was taken.
(Credit: , . Public domain.)
Same camera location and settings as used for upper right image but 45 seconds later, showing how lava spilling from base of inflating toe has merged to form another toe that is in turn inflating.
(Credit: , . Public domain.)
Overview of lobe of flow created by toes shown in preceding four images. Sagging rope just left of support is same as that shown in images above.
(Credit: , . Public domain.)
Temperature, warm; wind, calm; sea, smooth; sky, clear except for clouds on eastern horizon. View of sunrise from location of above images.
(Credit: , . Public domain.)
At 0725, park maintenance man cleaning restroom at end of road helped observer drive through road barricade. Observer said: "Beautiful morning, isn't it?" The response after a slight pause, "We're so lucky to be here, aren't we?" Enough said.
(Credit: , . Public domain.)
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Lava moves across rope
Broad toe of lava moves across rope that formed barrier for access to Wilipe`a lava delta.
Continued movement of lava across rope barrier
Continued movement of lava across rope barrier. Muffled sounds of a long-lasting, migrating methane explosion can be heard about two-thirds of the way through the clip, followed by a "Wow."
Lava breaks out of inflated toe
Lava breaks out of inflated toe and moves down moderate slope with rolling motion, top faster than bottom. See still images for this day; sagging rope gives scale.
Map shows lava flows erupted during the 1983-February 17, 2003
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