Remembering the May 18th eruption...

May 18th and volcanic eruptions have been associated to anniversary of the legendary Mount St Helens 40 years ago... but this isn't an image of the 1980 eruption in Washington. This colorized image is from the 1924 Kilauea eruption that happened May 18th, decades prior. According to reports at the time, the ash generated in the 1924 eruption was enough to collapse gutters in Glenwood. The 1924 explosive summit eruption was accompanied by an Lower East Rift Zone intrusion of magma. In Lower Puna, the ground shook and cracked, but no lava made it to the surface. It would take another 31 years before Lower Puna would see a eruption in 1955. Image from Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Colorized by me. "This photo and the events described above took place thousands of miles away from Mount St. Helens and 56 years earlier to the day! Kīlauea is known worldwide for undulating rivers of molten lava, bubbling lava lakes, and lava fountains but less well known for explosive eruptions. The 1924 eruption cost Mr. Truman Taylor of Pāhala his life. Former Scientist-in-Charge of the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Don Swanson cautions that we should not be lulled into a false sense of security. The 1924 and 2018 eruptions on Kīlauea are vivid reminders of the potentially explosive nature of Hawaiian volcanoes. Food for thought on this most auspicious anniversary." ~ Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park