Jeremy Brier

March 7, 1995

- INTERESTING NOTES + ANSWERS TO FAIRFAX SCHOOL QUESTIONS

After the usual 2.00 a.m wake-up call followed by a quick breakfast (I'm not hungry that time of morning!), I embarked on the forty minute drive to 'JASONville' the site of this year's JASON Project, live from Hawaii. Today I was assigned to two main areas of activity:

(i) Helicopter observations
(ii) Geology: volcano characteristics

The helicopter ride was a truly incredible experience, a blend of excitement and fun - but also very scientifically interesting. After taking the necessary safety precautions, we flew over the volcano of Pu`u `O`o. I was able to observe the following:

• The volcano was very large and crater-like
• In terms of shape the volcano appears like a hollow cone with it's top third removed
• From the volcano, huge, viscous clouds of white fume engulfed us in the helicopter
• A dazzling red lava pool could just be seen at the very bottom of the volcano, (one can infer from this that it is seeringly hot)

After this flight (which resulted in me using up half a roll of film!!), I left for the lava field (scortching temperatures: time = 9.30 am.). I worked here with Geologist, Dr. Steve Mattox, who geve me valuable information about volcanoes, some of which I feel it would be nice to share:

• Red hot molten lava is carried from the volcanoes to the ocean via lava tubes which have formed as a crust as the outside of the lava cools, but the inside remains hot (1200 C).
• As the lava enters the ocean it creates a white smoke plume: sometimes the substances that are given off in this plume can be harmful to local residents causing respiritory diseases
• Volcanoes can help the environment too, e.g. in the region of agriculture (improving soil)
• The 'glassier' the lava is on the field, the newer it is too
• The older lava smells worse than the new lava: the scent is often a result of products breaking down
• It is likely that in the not too distant future, the lava field you see today will have been completely covered with a fresh layer
• The field stretches 10 miles wide
• The lava goes down 50 - 100 feet
• Hawaii increases by 1 square mile each year due to the newly formed lava (remember: the ocean is responsible for erosion)

I hope these information notes have proved easy to follow, consice and clear. I'm having a wonderful educational adventure here on the Big Island and I look forward to talking too you soon.

Any questions for the JASON student discussion group? We would be happy to try and answer them.

ANSWERS TO FAIRFAX COLLEGIATE SCHOOL QUESTIONS:

1. To be an argonaut one needs two things: a sense of purpose and a sense of fun - a certain amount of maturity and intelligence, but a sense of humour and positive attitude is essential.
2. To walk on cooled lava is a good feeling - crunchy, like popcorn. However I hesitate over whether the word 'coooled' is apt. In fact it felt really hot! Also, contrary to what you may think, it is quite easy to walk on the lava as long as you are alert to the potential dangers - I was scared the first time but now I am reasonably confident (NOT careless).
3. I like the JASON project location here, as it's good to be in a hot climate after spending most of the year in England! But I'm not really fussy about locations; this would be a fantastic experience anywhere.

   BEST WISHES EVERYONE ... KEEP WRITING!!
   JEREMY M. BRIER, 14 (HOMETOWN: LONDON U.K)

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