How hot has a Hawiian volcano gotten?

rocky Arisela Hernandez

Hi Arisela,

The lava coming out of a Hawaiian volcano usually has a temperature around 1150-1170 degrees centigrade. That is more than 2200 degrees farenheit! The lava very quickly develops a skin of cooler lava that is "only" about 800 degrees centigrade.

Measuring the temperature of the lava is not very easy (as you can imagine) and there is a rule that says "the temperature of the lava is inversely proportional to the comfort of the volcanologist making the measurement" If you are in a comfortable place with the wind at your back you can stick around long enough for your temperature measureing device to reach the true lava temperature. If you are getting cooked, however, you don't stay long enough and you think that the temperature wasn't as hot.

sincerely,

Scott Rowland, University of Hawaii 

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