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Hawaii volcano offers view of rolling, spattering lava

In this Sept. 10, 2016, photo released by the U.S. Geological Survey shows the east edge of Halemaumau Crater spattering lava at the south corner of the Kilauea's summit lake after it rose over the weekend, to within about 5 m (16 ft) of the floor of Halemaumau Crater, before dropping back down slightly with the onset of spattering in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, in Hawaii. (Tim Orr/U.S. Geological Survey via AP) In this Sept. 10, 2016, photo released by the U.S. Geological Survey shows the east edge of Halemaumau Crater spattering lava at the south corner of the Kilauea's summit lake after it rose over the weekend, to within about 5 m (16 ft) of the floor of Halemaumau Crater, before dropping back down slightly with the onset of spattering in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, in Hawaii. (Tim Orr/U.S. Geological Survey via AP)

By Associated Press September 12, 2016 1 min read

HONOLULU (AP) – The lava lake at the summit of Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano is rising, offering visitors a dramatic view of rolling, spattering hot rock.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory research scientist Don Swanson said Monday scientists don’t know exactly why the lava is this high.

Lava overflowed onto the crater floor in May of last year, raising the rim that confines the lake by another 30 feet. Before last year, it was last this high in the 1974 and in the late 1960s.

Swanson says the lake is particularly colorful to watch at night. That’s when visitors to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park can see the glow of the molten rock spattering along the lake’s edge.

Kilauea volcano has been erupting continuously since 1983. It is one of the world’s most active volcanoes.