Strange that something so disruptive can be so beautiful.
Hawaii Volcano Observatory Alert: Saturday at 5AM, the summit crater let off a series of explosions at 5AM sending up an ash cloud 11,000 feet that lingered for 25 minutes. Lighter winds may keep ashfall from today’s explosions mostly within the park, giving downwind communities a respite. [Edit: No such luck. Taller ash explosions today had more range.]
HVO webcam caught a nice glimpse of plume by moonlight (“exit” sign of observatory reflected in lens):
Moon illuminates the plume. 3 explosions overnight at Kīlauea Volcano’s summit; ash clouds to 10,000 ft but quickly dispersed. EQs and explosions occur as summit area subsides and adjusts to withdrawal of magma. https://t.co/u8INilHsg0 pic.twitter.com/xSgCmXCrhx
— USGS Volcanoes🌋 (@USGSVolcanoes) May 26, 2018
(Camera is picking up a few lights from observatory; note “Exit” sign.)
Sadly, it was not so tranquil-looking down in Leilani Estates, 25 miles away:
Lava from Kilauea has destroyed 82 homes or structures and isolated an additional 37 https://t.co/acVrHVoZhD pic.twitter.com/zcTfcwXVLC
— Star-Advertiser (@StarAdvertiser) May 26, 2018