The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1912-12-03
NORMAL ACTIVITY
At THE VOLCANO
Smoke Fumes Dense at Times
Fire Level Down 1896 Feet,
With Fountains Flowing.

TECHNOLOGY, STATION, Kilauea,
November 2S.-During the past week
the behavior of the volcano has been
normal, except for the volume of fumes
which, according to all accounts, is
still much greater than in recent years
Two measurements made under diff
culties, owing to swirling fumes and
to rapid alterations in the confgura
ton of the lava pools, doubtfully fixed
| the level of the magma surface at from
3S5 to 800 feet below the eastern rim
of the pit during the early evening OF
November "a, from to Gas p. nj.
In the late evening of November 20
a series of six measurements on two
different regions of the magma surface
were completed, the work extending
of these range from 376 to 3S5 feet be-
low different stations on the brim
During this interval changing winds
swept the fumes about in caprieious
manner often obscuring the bottom of
the pit for many minutes mt time.
Changes in the form and appearance
of the pools also went on rapidly.
Consequently, though the depression
angles were determined very satisfac-
torilv, the intersections distances were
in some cases not thoroughly reliable.
TO certain extent the range in value,
376 to 3Sj feet, is attributable to these
circumstances. However the stations
at the rim are not all Mt the same level,
ana during the period of observation
minor changes in the altitude Of the
magma surface were observed to occur.
1t ~ n legitimate deduction from the
worl. that the surface was oscillating
slightly in depth around value of ap.
proximately $50 feet.
Fires Crusted over
Probably prior to November "a the
surface had dropped lower than its pos
ition az that time, $50 feet. This opin.
ion is based upon the observed and
photographed apparent height of the
fresh bank surrounding the lake,
whence the lava appears now to be ris
ing slowly, with oscillations in height
The surface of the magma column is
now single lake, but the greater part
of its area is covered with a thin crust,
traversed by numerous angling cracks
Miniature flows now and then well out
of these. Less frequently parts Of this
frozen area break up and founder
locally, or stream into one of the fOun-
tanning pools.
During this week two pools have re-
manned open constantly, boiling slug
gishly with occasional vigorous foun.
tain action, one near tho western end
of the lake but not extending TO its
very margin, the other enclosing the
region Of cold Faithful. " These have
been approximately Of the same size
with dinmeters of from ono.iifth TO one
eighth those Of the entire lake area
During part Of the time these pools
have been Joined, making one, by n
sluggish stress Of uncrusted lava set
ting slowly eastward into the "Old
Faithful pool. The breadth Of this
strenm has vnrie1 from one.hhlf 10
seyen.eiphtbs the shorter dinmeter Of
the oOid Faithful pool Occasionally
% bridge Of crust has formed across
tho fuRgish stream hut no interruption
Of rs AOw has been observed
Ia the evening ~ November sl, Tor
"a time narrow dFtfihulnrY stream
lrnnrhed ~ from tho u0lihnr limb OF
thlH main Hifram HHl il1npi very i1l
iily unnhNuri uuim lhn bans A
shufp lmir WHt distinctly Observable
Tong ihr r0uffr ~ thiH ditiuhHiufY
a mnll boiling pnt nmr ihr runih
margin hAf hfn HriFr Ht i1Wrs. Hhl
iur apmr hoW lu lNe evening ni hn
ffWhr M WunN fifwm 'lHfi
,fmllf fnm 600 nl0 thr "uIl laiih
fm' nnal
AZ All HaI Ur.Nni ihr mW.a nf
ihr marnl 1850 HHi no H nHHf Ftn
HfH Hu rlHWHHH 900 Uf nhllh lHfH
i.lf sHu ~ rluHN nffHHi ihH
fmitHn mFi.u llNN ID plHnIn7
plaga pfll fholf tlr lffal.ef ihf istf