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Pāhoehoe on Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone

Detailed Description

This lava, erupted from fissure 8 on Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone, shows classic pāhoehoe behavior. Exposed to the air, the surface of the flow chills to form a thin crust that can be stretched or broken apart, forming pieces of crust that are "subducted" back into the molten interior. The main sound is wind noise, but crackles can also be heard as flakes of glassy lava pop off the top of the solid crust as it stretches and moves.

Sources/Usage

Public Domain.