Boulder ejected by blast onto delta, Kilauea Volcano, Hawai`i

Photo Information

Photograph by C. Heliker on January 26, 1988

A major delta collapse on Janaury 23, 1988, removed about half of the bench (up to 50 m!) and hurled this rock onto the remaining bench area. The blast sent rocks 10 to 50 cm in diameter as far as 40-50 m inland. Two minor collapse events preceded the major collapse by about 10 minutes. When small collapses do occur, visitors should make doubly sure that they are safely behind the former sea cliff and not standing on the active delta.

The URL of this page is: http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/hazards/oceanentry/deltaexplosions/4303053_photocaption.html
Contact: hvowebmaster@usgs.gov
Updated: 2 June 2000 (SRB)

Photo Information
Photograph by C. Heliker on January 26, 1988
A major delta collapse on Janaury 23, 1988, removed about half of the bench (up to 50 m!) and hurled this rock onto the remaining bench area. The blast sent rocks 10 to 50 cm in diameter as far as 40-50 m inland. Two minor collapse events preceded the major collapse by about 10 minutes. When small collapses do occur, visitors should make doubly sure that they are safely behind the former sea cliff and not standing on the active delta.