What is Pele's hair?
When Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano is erupting, it can produce many different threats such as ash, volcanic gas and lava.
While those are some of the most common types of hazards associated with volcanoes, officials have frequently warned of a unique type of danger from Kilauea called “Pele’s hair.”
(Photo/Hawaii Volcanoes National Park)
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Pele’s Hair is made of thin strands of volcanic glass that are drawn out from molten lava. A single strand can have a diameter of less than 0.5 mm and reach a length as long as 2 meters (6.5 feet).
"The 'hairs' form when lava is ejected violently from a vent, leaving small strands of molten material that solidify in air," the USGS said on its Facebook page.
Officials urge residents to minimize exposure to these volcanic particles, as they can cause irritation to the skin and eyes.
A close-up view of Pele's hair from the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. (Photo/Hawaii Volcanoes National Park)
Pele’s hair can also scratch glass and car finishes, so it’s recommended that people use plenty of water to rinse Pele’s hair off vehicles and avoid using windshield wipers.
The name of this volcanic debris derives from Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire. Pele is said to be an "akua," or sacred, elemental earth spirit, represented by fire and volcanoes.
The strands of volcanic glass can often pile up and coat the ground. It can also be carried several kilometers downwind of the summit vent within Halema‘uma‘u Crater, the USGS states.
When observed up close, it appears brown to black in color, but from farther away it can appear more like a golden-green.
Pele's hair covers the ground along Crater Rim Drive in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. (Photo/Hawaii Volcanoes National Park)
