New photos show lava entering the ocean
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Two lava streams enter the ocean at one of the entry points from the Puu Oo Peace Day flow. Some of the cooling lava pieces can be seen floating on the water's surface in the lower left corner of the photo. (Courtesy USGS/Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory)
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Over the past week this spatter cone on the floor of Puu Oo crater has been the source of several large, but brief, lava flows on the crater floor. On Thursday, the cone was producing pulsating gas jetting sounds. (Courtesy USGS/Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory)
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After a 7.5 mile journey from the vent on Puu Oo cone through a lava tube, lava pours into the ocean in narrow streams at one of the eastern entry points. (Courtesy Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory/USGS/Tim Orr)
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory released new pictures of lava entering the ocean in two places near the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park boundary. Lava has been flowing into the ocean from what’s called the Peace Day flow.
The flow began on Sept. 11, 2011 when a fissure opened on the east flank of Puu Oo, draining a lava lake that had formed in the crater. The flow reached the ocean on Nov. 24.
The observatory also released a photo of a splatter cone within Puu Oo crater. There have been small lava flows within the crater in recent weeks.
The lava flows are visible from a Hawaii County observation point outside the park. Private helicopter and boat tours are also taking tourists near the flow areas.
