When Hawaii’s Mauna Loa erupted, officials warned of ‘Pele’s hair’ made of lava

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Never mind the lava. But be careful with the goddess hair.

This was a message from US government officials minutes after Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano, erupted for the first time in almost 40 years.

The erupting lava did not threaten homes, but there could be risks, they said. Lava bubbles explode, sending downwind a delicate golden lava that resembles human hair.

The phenomenon known as Pele’s hair is named after Pelehonuamea, the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes and fire.

“Her presence is felt by those who visit her volcanic realm, and lives on in the hearts and minds of those who experience her powers. You will be approached with respect, not with.

A video taken on November 28 shows the extent of Mauna Loa’s lava flow in Hawaii after it erupted a day earlier. (Video: Washington Post)

Hawaii’s Mauna Loa volcano erupts for first time in 38 years

Pele’s hair is a byproduct of a geological process in which air bubbles in lava burst and cool rapidly, National Park Service officials said. A burst of bubbles stretches the lava and cools it quickly. The resulting delicate strands reach several feet in length and are about 1 micron (0.001 mm) thick.

Because it’s so light, the strands can float in the air and float in the wind, according to the Park Service. They gather in lowlands to create dense mats that can be several inches deep. They look like hair but are actually glass, officials warn.

“While they are fragile and brittle, they are also sharp. As tiny shards of glass, they can get caught in human skin or, worse, in the eyes. Yes,” a Parks Service official said on its website.

“When the bubble bursts, it stretches and stretches into a very thin film,” geochemist Kendra Lynn told Discover, describing the process as “like when you pull apart a caramel candy, or like bubblegum.” compared.

Birds use Pele’s hair to build their nests, as well as other materials from their surrounding environment, according to the Park Service.

Mauna Loa began erupting around 11:30 pm local time on Sunday. This is his first in 38 years. Although the eruption did not endanger the communities immediately below, the U.S. Geological Survey warned about 200,000 people on the Big Island that it was “very dynamic, with the potential for rapid changes in lava flow location and progression.” there is,” he warned.

“At this time, the lava flow is contained within the summit area and is not threatening downhill communities,” it said. “The wind carries volcanic gases and can carry fine ash and Pele’s hair downwind.”