In this view of a lava entry point, the concentric color pattern visible on the ocean's surface represents several distinct temperature zones. The yellow-brown zone ranges from as high as 69°C near the lava contact to about 35°C as far as 70 to 100 m offshore. Water is heated at the lava-entry point and moves outward until the long-shore current carries it south along the coast of Kilauea (away from camera). The brown color results from high concentrations of suspended glass fragments broken from cooling lava and from occasional gelatinous zooplankton.

Inside the horseshoe-shaped yellow-brown zone, the surface water temperatures are about 23-25°C. This is the coolest water near the lava-entry point. At the center of this zone water heated by submarine lava flows mixes with cool water then rises buoyantly to the surface (see sketches below). By the time the rising water reaches the surface, it's temperature is only 2-5° above that of normal seawater. The usual contrasting dark blue color of the ocean is obscured by weather clouds in the lower left corner of the photograph (above).

This infrared video frame emphasizes the temperature contrasts of the ocean's surface. White areas represent temperatures above 150° C, which include the steam plume (upper right), the active lava bench, and hot rocks floating on the ocean surface near the entry point. Light gray areas (brown water in color photograph above) surround the dark area of cooler upwelling. Within this dark area are three faint subcircular rings of warmer water that enclose a brighter distinct spot (click image to see these rings more clearly). Infrared video of this area on May 7 revealed a cyclic pulse of upwelling and expansion; a new pulse of slightly warmer water appeared at the surface every 4-8 seconds.

Unexpected large waves caused by normal ocean swells and sudden collapses of an active lava delta often send scalding hot water crashing onto shore.