Changes in lava flows intensify questions to scientists

Aerial view looking west at the end of the active flows moving east from the open channel (flows are black in middle foreground). A new lava tube is feeding lava to the flow front, located about 3.5 km (2.2 miles) from the end of the lava channel as of October 31. A tube was also supplying lava to less active pahoehoe flows on the north side of the flow field (out of view, middle right). The breached cone (Pu`u Ki`ai) and channel in lower left were erupted in 1977. This older channel fed lava flows that traveled south to within about 1.6 km (1 mi) of Kalapana. Pu`u `O`o can be seen fuming near top left, and Mauna Loa is the huge hump at top right. Photograph by Tim Orr, U.S. Geological Survey; 31 October 2007.