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Photo and Video Chronology - Kīlauea - January 1, 2017 -

By Kīlauea January 1, 2017

Kamokuna lava delta collapse also takes part of old sea cliff

 

Kamokuna lava delta collapse also takes part of old sea cliff...
The rocky shelf at the base of the sea cliff is all that remains of the Kamokuna lava delta following the New Year's Eve collapse (Dec. 31, 2016), which sent acres of rock plunging into the sea. The exposed lava tube continued to feed a cascade of molten rock down the steep sea cliff, beginning the process of building another lava delta at the ocean entry, as this photo was taken on Jan. 1, 2017. When the lava delta collapsed, solid and molten fragments of lava and superheated steam exploded skyward, creating tremendous hazard for anyone who ignored the warning signs and entered the closed area on land or ventured too close to the lava delta by boat.
In addition to most of the Kamokuna lava delta disappearing into th...
In addition to most of the Kamokuna lava delta disappearing into the ocean on New Year's Eve day, a large section of the older sea cliff east of the delta also collapsed. Here you can see the "bite" taken out by the collapse of the sea cliff. At right, an HVO geologist, donning a hard hat in case of another collapse and explosion, mapped the new edge of the coast (see map at https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_maps.html).

 

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