Kilauea Volcano, Hawai'i: Lava Flows 22 March 2018

Kilauea volcano, Hawai'i: lava flows 22 March 2018

The photographs presented here are taken by VolcanoDiscovery team member and geologist Dr Ingrid Smet during one of our 7 days volcano adventures on Hawaii. During a morning excursion on 22 Mar 2018 our small group found a number of active pahoehoe lava flow fronts at the bottom of the pali which they observed and photographed for 3,5 hours.
These lava flows originate from the tube system of the so-called "61g" lava flow episode of Kilauea volcano, which started in late May 2016 and fed an active ocean entry during July 2016 - Nov 2017. In the past 4 months, the lava tube has been producing surface flows of varying size above and on the pali as well as near its base. By mid March 2018 they had advanced enough to allow spectacular observations of active lava flow fronts after a relatively tough hike of ca. 3 hours across the older lava fields.

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We start our hike to the active lava flow fronts at 03h00 am as their nighttime red glow makes the lava flows more easily recognizable (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

We start our hike to the active lava flow fronts at 03h00 am as their nighttime red glow makes the l... [info]
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Hiking across the vast lava flow fields below the east rift zone we slowly but surely get closer to the orange red lava lights on the pali (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

Hiking across the vast lava flow fields below the east rift zone we slowly but surely get closer to ... [info]
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By dawn finally reach the bottom of the pali from where lava is flowing down - seemingly writing the initials of our tour guide Ingrid Smet? (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

By dawn finally reach the bottom of the pali from where lava is flowing down - seemingly writing the... [info]
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Sunrise over the vast lava flow fields that have been repeatedly covering this coastal area since the start of the Pu'u O'o eruption in 1983 (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

Sunrise over the vast lava flow fields that have been repeatedly covering this coastal area since th... [info]
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The active pahoehoe lava flow fronts that we found are advancing next to an older blocky aa lava flow (dark brown rocks in bottom left corner) (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

The active pahoehoe lava flow fronts that we found are advancing next to an older blocky aa lava flo... [info]
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Our small party at the active lava flow fronts! (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
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The silvery, freshly cooled crust of a lava front breaks open as fresh lava pushes through (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

The silvery, freshly cooled crust of a lava front breaks open as fresh lava pushes through (Photo: I... [info]
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Liquid lava oozing out from underneath a recently cooled crust (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
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The outer surface of fresh red hot lava quickly forms a thing silvery crust, which is pushed forward by the underneath still flowing lava, and thereby crumpled into the typical ropey texture (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

The outer surface of fresh red hot lava quickly forms a thing silvery crust, which is pushed forward... [info]
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Close up of a fresh ropey textured crust and the still liquid glowing lava underneath it (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

Close up of a fresh ropey textured crust and the still liquid glowing lava underneath it (Photo: Ing... [info]
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As the thin crust is pushed forwards the shear stress ruptures the crust on the sides of the lava tongue (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

As the thin crust is pushed forwards the shear stress ruptures the crust on the sides of the lava to... [info]
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Actively flowing pahoehoe lava fronts at the bottom of (foreground) and halfway up (background left) the pali (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

Actively flowing pahoehoe lava fronts at the bottom of (foreground) and halfway up (background left)... [info]
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It is just fascinating to watch the ever changing patterns, textures and shapes of the advancing pahoehoe lava flow fronts (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

It is just fascinating to watch the ever changing patterns, textures and shapes of the advancing pah... [info]
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Thin upper crust gets crumpled and twisted whilst moving on top of the actively flowing lava, resulting in intricate textures such as this 'wheel' (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

Thin upper crust gets crumpled and twisted whilst moving on top of the actively flowing lava, result... [info]
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Active pahoehoe lava flow front (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
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Faster flowing channel of pahoehoe lava (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
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Crumpled, twisted, ropey textured lava crust gets heaped up at the front of the active lava flow (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

Crumpled, twisted, ropey textured lava crust gets heaped up at the front of the active lava flow (Ph... [info]
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As the lava moves relatively slow, one can get as close as the heat allows to observe or photograph it (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

As the lava moves relatively slow, one can get as close as the heat allows to observe or photograph ... [info]
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Detail of the ropey textured crust at the lava flow front and the still liquid, red hot liquid lava underneath it (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

Detail of the ropey textured crust at the lava flow front and the still liquid, red hot liquid lava ... [info]
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As the crust breaks open, a miniature skylight is formed, allowing us a look inside the red glowing hot interior of the active pahoehoe lava flow (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

As the crust breaks open, a miniature skylight is formed, allowing us a look inside the red glowing ... [info]
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But as the lava is continuously moving this small 'gateway to hell' quickly collapses (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

But as the lava is continuously moving this small 'gateway to hell'quickly collapses (Photo: Ingrid ... [info]
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New break out along the edge of an actively advancing pahoehoe lava flow front (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
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Active pahoehoe lava flows at the bottom of (foreground) and on (background right) the pali (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

Active pahoehoe lava flows at the bottom of (foreground) and on (background right) the pali (Photo: ... [info]
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Getting up close to actively flowing pahoehoe lava (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
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Small side channel of pahoehoe lava, forming a ropey textured crust (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
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Lava toes oozing out from between just collapsed ropey lava crust (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
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The continuously moving and changing lava flow front sometimes also forms more blocky, angular aa lava textures (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

The continuously moving and changing lava flow front sometimes also forms more blocky, angular aa la... [info]
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Multiple lateral pahoehoe lava flows emerging from the main lava flow front (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
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Fresh pahoehoe lava with silvery ropey textured crust slowly covers older aa lava (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

Fresh pahoehoe lava with silvery ropey textured crust slowly covers older aa lava (Photo: Ingrid Sme... [info]
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Different small pahoehoe lava outbreaks pooling together (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
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More rapidly flowing pahoehoe lava emerging from underneath a freshly cooled ropey crust (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

More rapidly flowing pahoehoe lava emerging from underneath a freshly cooled ropey crust (Photo: Ing... [info]
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Close up of red hot liquid lava flowing from underneath a recently cooled crust (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
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Large ropes are formed in the thin upper crust of this lava flow (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
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Detail of freshly formed silvery crust and its red hot liquid lava interior (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
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Ropey textured pahoehoe lava channels at the advancing flow front (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
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Detail of red hot lava with low viscosity flowing from underneath a thin fresh crust (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

Detail of red hot lava with low viscosity flowing from underneath a thin fresh crust (Photo: Ingrid ... [info]
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One can easily spend a few hours observing and photographing the everchanging front of an active lava flow! (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

One can easily spend a few hours observing and photographing the everchanging front of an active lav... [info]
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A small lava breakout pushes up its crust - note the heat shimmer in the air above it (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

A small lava breakout pushes up its crust - note the heat shimmer in the air above it (Photo: Ingrid... [info]
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Actively flowing pahoehoe lava engulfs older aa lava (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
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Intricate texture of folded, crumpled up ropey fresh crust at the front of a larger pahoehoe lava flow (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

Intricate texture of folded, crumpled up ropey fresh crust at the front of a larger pahoehoe lava fl... [info]
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Close up of pele's hair been formed whilst liquid lava breaks out from underneath freshly cooled crust (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

Close up of pele's hair been formed whilst liquid lava breaks out from underneath freshly cooled cru... [info]
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Ropey textured crust flowing, turning and sliding down a hill can form beautiful textures such as this 'rosette' (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

Ropey textured crust flowing, turning and sliding down a hill can form beautiful textures such as th... [info]
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Multiple lobes of liquid pahoehoe lava at the front of an active lava flow (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
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Advancing pahohehoe lava burns any plants that had already colonised these lava flow fields (in this case a young ohia lehua) (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

Advancing pahohehoe lava burns any plants that had already colonised these lava flow fields (in this... [info]
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Philip Ong, our VolcanoDiscovery expert guide for Kilauea's active lava flows, trying to dry up a bit using the lava's heat (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

Philip Ong, our VolcanoDiscovery expert guide for Kilauea's active lava flows, trying to dry up a bi... [info]
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Active pahoehoe lava flow fronts next to an older aa lava (dark brown rocks in the centre left) (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

Active pahoehoe lava flow fronts next to an older aa lava (dark brown rocks in the centre left) (Pho... [info]
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Not a single moment in the 3,5 hours that we spend with these active lava flows was boring! (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

Not a single moment in the 3,5 hours that we spend with these active lava flows was boring! (Photo: ... [info]
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Flow front of an active pahoehoe lava lobe with both ropey and more blocky texture of the crust (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

Flow front of an active pahoehoe lava lobe with both ropey and more blocky texture of the crust (Pho... [info]
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Lava flowing downhil from multiple outbreak points results into its quickly cooled crust rotating into this beautiful rosette like texture (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

Lava flowing downhil from multiple outbreak points results into its quickly cooled crust rotating in... [info]
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We are eventually able to tear ourselves away from the beautiful spectacle that Pele's has offered this morning and start making our 3 hours way back (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

We are eventually able to tear ourselves away from the beautiful spectacle that Pele's has offered t... [info]
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It takes no longer than 9 months for plants to colonise a freshly formed lava flow (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

It takes no longer than 9 months for plants to colonise a freshly formed lava flow (Photo: Ingrid Sm... [info]
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Ferns are the first plants to start growing on new lava flow fields, usually within the cooling cracks (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

Ferns are the first plants to start growing on new lava flow fields, usually within the cooling crac... [info]
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A young fern growing in between the ropey texture of a pahoehoe lava flow (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
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Kilauea volcano, Hawai'i: lava flows 22 March 2018

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