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A breakout that started June 26 on the upper pali is now advancing across the coastal plain. The flow front has advanced approximately 500 m (0.3 miles) from the base of the pali, and was about 2.7 km (1.7 miles) from the emergency road this morning. The pāhoehoe flow front, visible in the center of the photo, was very fluid and active when mapped today by geologists. Active and recently active surface flows are silver in appearance, like the flow front; also note the silver appearance on the steep part of the pali to the right of the kipuka. The main tube system for the episode 61g flow is degassing higher up on the pali (left-center).
A closer look at the pāhoehoe flow on the coastal plain with pali in background. As the flow spread across the ground, its surface cooled and developed a hardened crust. Continued addition of new lava into the interior of the flow eventually raised and broke through the rigid crust, allowing molten lava from the interior to escape through the new openings and spread forward. Note the rigid crust on top of the red, molten lava.
