Aerial views of the active rootless shield 2

Aerial views of the active rootless shield at the 2220-foot elevation, along the master tube carrying lava from Pu`u `O`o to the coastal flat. 25-50 meters wide, a small bubbling fountain feeds lava toward camera along right side of view, while smooth crust on a lava pond is slowly breaking and sinking left of the fountain. Note the developing crack in the crust (left center) with incandescent lava oozing from it. The crust sinks because the underlying bubbly lava is lighter and more buoyant. Two columns make up the hornito. Already sulfur deposition is extensive, making the hornito look prematurely old.