Additional Observations of Actively Forming Lava Tubes and Associated Structures, Hawaii

Extensive changes occurred after the initial observations (Greeley, 1971) of lava tube and channel formation associated with the eruption of Mauna Ulu. Individual vents, which apparently acted somewhat independently, merged by collapse of intervening sections to form an elongate trench. Lava erupted from the summit vent flowed down the trench to the lower end and drained through lava tubes into Alae lava lake. Alae lava lake is in turn drained occasionally by other lava tubes and lava tube networks.