'Unprecedented’: Pond at bottom of Halemaumau Crater has scientists stumped

A green pond has been discovered in Halemaumau Crater (Image: USGS)
A green pond has been discovered in Halemaumau Crater (Image: USGS)
Published: Aug. 2, 2019 at 5:20 PM HST
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KILAUEA, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - A new green pond has formed on the floor of Halemaumau Crater on the Big Island — and it has scientists scratching their heads.

A helicopter pilot first spotted the green water in the bottom of the crater on July 25, and describes it as about the size of a pickup truck. It has clearly grown since then.

Geologists said there has never been a pond in Halemaumau — at least in recorded history.

“This is the first time that we’ve seen water in Halemaumau in historical time. Interpreting Hawaiian chants and stories, you can see, perhaps, there were two other periods when there were lakes. But never in the past couple hundred years,” said Donald Swanson, scientist emeritus at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

“We think this is probably groundwater coming into the crater rather than rainwater. This certainly is unprecedented, and we’re still a little unsure of exactly what is happening."

Swanson’s theory: “I think it’s part of the recovery process after the collapse in the summer of 2018, and we’re now getting back to the situation that’s less disturbed than it was at that time.”

Scientists say they’re working to figure out not only where the water is coming from, but its geological implications. But first, they have to figure out how to study it.

The water is difficult to reach ― more than 1,500 feet down, at the bottom of the crater ― and impossible to see from most of the crater rim.

Geologists are considering using a web cam or remote sensing to observe the pond.

And what’s behind that color?

Swanson said the green tinge means the water is likely acidic.

Images of the green pond (Image: USGS)
Images of the green pond (Image: USGS)

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