September 8, 2022 — Mauna Loa Sulphur Cone MultiGas Station Maintenance

Sulfur features northeast of Sulphur Cone at an elevation of 3,430 meters (11,240 feet) above sea level. Sulfur has a low melting temperature, about 112 degrees Celsius (234 degrees Fahrenheit), slightly above the boiling point of water. Scientists hypothesize that the 1950 eruption of the Southwest Rift Zone of Mauna Loa substantially raised the ground temperature, causing the sulfur to melt and form a flow ranging in thickness from 10 to 50 cm (4-20 inches) and covering about 380 square meters (450 square yards). USGS image by T. Elias.