We continue to monitor the situation on the big island where the volcano is erupting Kilauea. I would like to tell that the situation is getting better, but it only gets worse. Observatory Hawaii volcanoes warns of the possibility of an explosive eruption, which is quite unusual for Kilauea. The Observatory staff told about what is happening under the ground.
Previously we reported that the volcanic fissures, from which flows of lava. They got to the residential areas. Challenges residents of the big island deliver clouds of sulfur dioxide. Now, however, it is obvious that the peaks of the crater of Kilauea has undergone deformation that leads to another behavior of the volcano. A lake full of lava, fell nearly 300 meters. This is followed by a chain of possible events leading to the explosion.
Explosions characteristic of stratovolcanoes, which Kilauea is not. Stratovolcanoes explosions throw rocks and ashes. In the case of Kilauea may be the same way, but at the root of this explosion will be quite different processes. Scientists believe that the cause of the explosion will become vapor. If the falling lava lake is supplied through the narrow passage of a much larger magmatic chamber, then eventually the lava level drops below the groundwater.
When this happens, water can flow and be converted into steam, which is heated from below. In the best case, the steam will just rise up to the sky, but there is reason to believe that the passage is unstable, and may be sealed with pieces of rocks. In this case, increasing the pressure and the steam will throw the pieces of rocks with ashes in the air.
These are not mere guesses. Exactly the same scenario events developed in may 1924 in the case of the same volcano, Kilauea. Within two weeks the volcano a series of explosions threw rocks into the air. Scientists believe that falling rocks this time will not harm populated area, but the ash can cause respiratory problems. Alas, no one can say exactly what will happen and when. To predict the behavior of a volcano is very difficult.
The situation is getting worse in Hawaii, Kilauea could start to explode
Ernest Vasilevskiy