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Photo and Video Chronology - Kīlauea - March 15, 2003

March 15, 2003

Wilipe`a rope meets Ides of March

Tongue of flow has burned part of rope barrier
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.

 

Photo showing tan dust thrown
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.
Lava actively advancing across downed rope barrier
Lava actively advancing across downed rope at site near where photographer is standing in upper left image. Looking east
Toes of lava spilling from front of flow tongue moving under downed barrier rope
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.
Rapidly inflating crust on flat ground
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.
Lava spills from base of inflated to
Lava spills from base of inflated toe shown in left image. Camera location has changed slightly from that when left image was taken.
Lava spilling from base of inflating toe has merged to form another toe
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.
Overview of lobe of flow created by toes
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.
View of sunrise over horizon
Temperature, warm; wind, calm; sea, smooth; sky, clear except for clouds on eastern horizon. View of sunrise from location of above images.
View of sunrise over horizon
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.

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