Volcano Watch — Recent lava fountains highlight Pele’s Hair hazards
Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. On January 16–17, persistent lava fountaining at Kīlauea summit, coupled with Kona wind conditions, resulted in Pele's hair falling on nearby communities and within parts of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. This photo was taken near Kīlauea Visitor Center, where strands of the fine volcanic glass had accumulated into tubular tumbleweeds of Pele's Hair reaching up to 56 centimeters (22 inches). USGS photo by K. Mulliken. Pele’s Hair is the name for the strands of volcanic glass that are created when