Week 4 - Volcano's

AFP/Getty Images. https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/975288/hawaii-volcano-update-news-map-fissures-usgs-lava-flow

I recently had the opportunity to see a real live volcano. Something that the 5th-grade science fair me would be very proud of. The destructive force of this volcano is as bad as I thought it would be. This volcano has already claimed 600 homes on the island. The volcano is Hawaii’s famous Kilauea Volcano, and specifically on the lower east rift zone. A new fissure opened on may 3rd in the lower east rift zone. They have named this fissure 8. There are currently around 24 fissures open. Only about 19 of them are actively spewing lava at this time though.

The volcano is here because it has always been here. These islands were built by this magma bubbling up through earth’s mantle. Lately, there has been much more activity. During my trip, the magma was much less viscous than they said it was at the beginning of the eruptions just a few months ago. This means the magma has a composition more Andesitic or Basaltic, instead of Felsic. This means the magma now has less silica content. Silica helps create crystal structures that can trap gases in the magma. Silica is like when you mix dry ice and water in a bottle and close the cap, where it explodes. Compared to Basaltic which has much less silica and acts just like mixing dry ice and water in an open container, where it just bubbles up and over making it quiescent.  

This volcano is creating huge problems due to the heavy magma flow. It has destroyed over 600 houses now. It also is flowing a large amount of magma into the ocean. When magma comes into contact with saltwater it creates a gas called Laze. Laze is corrosive gas made up of hydrochloric acid and fine volcanic particles that harm the eyes, skin, and lungs. This gas is being blown back onto the land and creating dangerous conditions.

They said that it doesn’t look like it will stop flowing magma for a long while so you all have time to go see a volcano in real life. But, it is changing life for the locals on the island with no end in sight.

Thank you,

         Will