Photo and Video Chronology - Kīlauea - July 4, 2004

This is a photo of two areas on eastern Banana delta shedding lava into the water.

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Two areas on eastern Banana delta are shedding lava into the water, as seen from visitor viewing area just northeast of delta. Largest area persisted until after dawn, but left area--on northeast side of delta's point--caved away several minutes after this image was taken. Height of cascades in right area, 4-6 m.

This is a photo of areas on eastern Banana delta shedding lava into the water.

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About one minute after large slab from the point broke away and fell into water. This changed configuration to viewers' disadvantage, since lava falls could no longer be seen off the point but instead were taking place in reentrant left by collapse. However, initial glow from falls in the reentrant was wonderful to see.

This is a photo of main entry continuing to drip and fall into swash zone.

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Glow at point has tamed down, but main entry continues to drip and fall into swash zone. Note black sand, generated by water quenching lava to brittle glass that waves break into sand-sized pieces.

This is a photo of main entry area waning.

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Now main entry area is waning. Compare with first of today's images.

This is a photo of main entry area being healthy again, but glow at point of delta is weak.

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If you can't look east at sunrise, look west. Sky is often prettier there, in subtle way. Main entry area healthy again, but glow at point of delta is weak.

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Twelve minutes later, main entry is waning again, and point's glow comes from lava hidden from view as result of earlier collapse.

This is a photo of a week-old tumulus dominating surface of delta.

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Week-old tumulus (right) dominates surface of delta.

This is a photo of a wave starting to crash against the decidedly smaller main entry area.

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Wave starting to crash against the decidedly smaller main entry area. Such waves disrupt the falling lava only temporarily. As soon as water withdraws, lava breaks through water-quenched skin and shows itself.