Lava fountains 2008 |
![Lava fountains 2008 Lava fountains 2008](lava-bubbles/icons/erta-ale-lava-bubble-mf9382.jpg) During breaks in the spattering activity at the hornito, gas is exhaled from the lake surface causing lava fountains. | ![Lava fountains 2008 Lava fountains 2008](lava-bubbles/icons/erta-ale-lava-bubble-mf9295.jpg) Fountaining usually lasts about two minutes. It breaks and lifts the shiny, partially solidified lava crust. | ![Lava fountains 2008 Lava fountains 2008](lava-bubbles/icons/erta-ale-lava-bubble-mf9327.jpg) Sometimes the gas explodes more violently. Then incandescent lava clots are ejected, looking like an expanding bubble. | ![Lava fountains 2008 Lava fountains 2008](lava-bubbles/icons/erta-ale-lava-bubble-mf9329.jpg) The fountains travel across the lake in the same direction as the convective motion of the folded curst (top right). |
![Lava fountains 2008 Lava fountains 2008](lava-bubbles/icons/erta-ale-lava-bubble-mf9330.jpg) Very hot lava continues to rise from the deep magmatic centre of the lake. | ![Lava fountains 2008 Lava fountains 2008](lava-bubbles/icons/erta-ale-lava-bubble-mf9339.jpg) Standing only 70 meters above the agitated lake, we sometimes feel very close indeed to all the action! | ![Lava fountains 2008 Lava fountains 2008](lava-bubbles/icons/erta-ale-lava-bubble-mf9363.jpg) Highly fluid lava is extended into Pele's hair (barely visible below the centre of the photo). | ![Lava fountains 2008 Lava fountains 2008](lava-bubbles/icons/erta-ale-lava-bubble-mf9344.jpg) Lava clots at least one metre in diameter; note incandescent Pele's hair. |
![Lava fountains 2008 Lava fountains 2008](lava-bubbles/icons/erta-ale-lava-bubble-mf9337.jpg) Pele's hair cools quickly and appears darker than the bright lava behind it. | ![Lava fountains 2008 Lava fountains 2008](lava-bubbles/icons/erta-ale-lava-bubble-mf9346.jpg) Bright sunlight reflects on the shiny crust, making it even brighter than the fluid lava. | ![Lava fountains 2008 Lava fountains 2008](lava-bubbles/icons/erta-ale-lava-bubble-mf9360.jpg) The sun shines on this lava fountain, creating a beautiful contrast to the shadow further back. | ![Lava fountains 2008 Lava fountains 2008](lava-bubbles/icons/erta-ale-lava-bubble-mf9365.jpg) Perfect illumination is more important than size, even for lava bubbles, when it comes to making a good impression... |
Photos by Marco Fulle, taken from a distance of 70 meters with 135mm and 500mm lenses and digital single lens reflex camera (equivalent focal lenghts of 200mm and 750mm on 24x36 film). |