Report from the Road: Hawaii volcanoes

In the field this week with 26 students, on the Big Island of Hawaii. Lots to talk about, and I will when I find a bit of time, which hasn't been easy. If you are wondering what you can see from the ground right now, well, I will try and show you!

Kilauea volcano is erupting in two places right now, at a cone called Pu'u O'o on the east rift zone, and just lately at Halemaumau, the main caldera at the top of Kilauea.

We walked the half-mile journey across the older lava flows to the Hawaii Civil Defence viewing area, which is about 2,000 feet from the ocean entry. This lava has flowed something like 7 miles from Pu'u O'o, and is pouring from a lava tube into the surf. It is a spectacular sight! The picture shows a distant view, and a lucky zoom shot that shows flowing lava. It took about 50 attempts to catch visible lava between the steam plumes.

More soon!