SGS geologists with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory spent the day assessing conditions at the leading edge of the #PunaLavaFlow. According to the HVO scientists, the lava is still moving between 10 -15 yd/hr, which is equivalent to 260 – 390 yards per day. As of 5 p.m. Sunday was 720 yards upslope from Pāhoa Village Road. They say at that rate it could reach the street by Tuesday evening. According to their measurements, the average width of the flow is 45 yards -- but USGS says as it has traveled downslope, it split into two lobes. The faster, northern lobe crossed completely through the Pāhoa cemetery by mid-morning, while the slower southern lobe was advancing through open pasture south of the cemetery. A third lobe farther upslope, just above Apaʻa Street, advanced about 55 yards since yesterday. They say the slightly slower-moving southern lobe in the pasture south of the cemetery reached slightly steeper terrain at mid-afternoon today. HVO scientists say it will likely rejoin with the finger that came through the cemetery near the northeast end of the pasture. According to USGS, the pasture is located between two of the steepest decent paths plotted on HVO’s lava flow maps, and the flow is trending toward the southerly of these two paths. They say this path joins the northerly steepest-descent path about mid-way between the cemetery and Pāhoa Village Road, so the inferred flow path leading to Pāhoa Village Road is unchanged. The potential impact zone is projected to be along Pāhoa Village Road between Apaa Street and Post Office Rd. More details coming up in a LIVE report from Puna next on Hawaii News Now at 9 PM -- plus, coming up at 10 PM: hear how geologists on the scene describe the hazards at the leading edge of the flow. (Video courtesy USGS) #MalamaPono From Mileka Lincoln
Posted on: Mon, 27 Oct 2014 06:58:11 +0000