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Leading tip of active lobe continues advancing downslope
The leading tip of the active portion of the June 27th lava flow continues to advance downslope, and is 3.4 km (2.1 km) from the intersection of Highway 130 and Pāhoa Village Road (as measured along a straight line). The front has advanced 300 meters (0.2 miles) since Sunday, December 7, and 1.4 km (0.9 miles) since our last overflight on December 1. The front is in an area of relatively flat topography, which may explain reduced advance rates over the past few days.
A comparison of a normal photograph with a thermal image of the leading tip of the active lobe on the June 27th lava flow. Corresponding points are marked with letters for reference. Active surface flows were present at the front of the lobe, and there were numerous small breakouts scattered in the immediate area upslope of the front.
A vigorous channelized breakout on the flow, a short distance upslope of the leading tip of activity.
A breakout was also present in the upslope portion of the June 27th lava flow, closer to Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. The breakout point was about 800 meters (0.5 miles) north of Pu‘u Kahauale‘a, which is close to Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. The breakout began on December 5 from the existing lava tube, and this photo shows the breakout point clearly. The roof of the lava tube is a raised ridge formed by earlier (darker) portions of the June 27th flow, and the new breakout (light gray) broke out from several spots on the side of this ridge. The new breakout has several small solidified channels - where these channels intersect the ridge of older lava marks the breakout points.
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