As ever , the ongoing bam at Kilauea and in the lower East Rift Zone ( LERZ)continues to impress : displace on from itsblue firedays , it seems that it ’s now redact a lot of work into a few of itsfissures , with one peculiarly hardworking one – Fissure 8 – creating lava outpouring that are now attain high of up to 76.2 meters ( rough 250 feet ) high .
It ’s still a danger though – in the main through its sulfur dioxide emanation and its somewhat irregular lava period . One of them threatened to steep a civilian in the region on the night of May 27 , but thanks to the United States Geological Survey ( USGS ) and the clever usance of a drone pipe , the crisis was averted .
According to the USGS’sFacebook postabout the incident , the Department of the Interior Unmanned Aircraft Systems ( UAS ) Kilauea reception squad was conducting mathematical function missionary work in the LERZ . Using a droning , they were keep their eye on where the lava was feed to , and how fast it was propagating across the increasingly scorched earth .
During this expedition , they were supply resilient television coverage of the flow to emergency brake official . Using this information , the authorisation began to clear resident physician away from the surface area , off the various street into which the lava was encroaching .
At this time , the squad was made cognisant of a receiving set transmission that notified them of a potentially life - threatening trouble : a civilian was trammel in their home plate on Luana Street . Although particular remain sparse at this tip , it seems as if the lava had suddenly encircled his position somewhat . Although certainly incandescent , at dark , with plenty of tree diagram cover charge , it was n’t open to the man where the itinerary of safety machine might in reality be .
They then sent the drone to his position and require him to succeed it to refuge . With the extra avail of a cellphone flashlight , he make do to make his way “ through the hobo camp ” toward Nohea Street .
“ After about 10 minute of allow focus data to both the stranded soul and the first responder , the hunting team was able-bodied to make link and run him to safety , ” the USGS explain . “ The UAS team outride onsite until the crews were clear of the area . ”
This is n’t by far the first time drones have been used in the serving of volcanology . They ’re regularly used to monitor the progress of lava stream and lava lake , both in Hawaii and elsewhere around the universe . Recently , they were used to produce the earthly concern ’s first3D thermal mapof Stromboli , a fabulously effervescent Sicilian vent .
This lilliputian tale , though , remind us that they can also be used to ensure that lives are n’t literally consumed by the fire . As ever , hat off to the USGS .
