What are the different lava flows?

Lava Flows. The major eruptive product of Hawaiian volcanoes is lava. Lava flows can form during fountaining eruptions or they can well out of the ground with little or no pyroclastic activity. There are two major types of basaltic lava flow, ' a'a and pahoehoe . read more

Lavas that have slight chemical differences tend to have different temperatures and viscosity's but the critical factor influencing the transition from pahoehoe to aa is the viscosity of the lava. Other lavas: Other types of lavas include block lava, which has a surface of large angular blocks, and rhyolite lava. read more

Pahoehoe lava flows form a beautiful and otherworldly barren landscape in southern part of Hawai’i. Walking on a pahoehoe lava flow is relatively easy, especially when compared with walking on an aa-type lava flow which is practically impossible undertaking. However, hiking on a smooth lava surface is not without some nasty surprises. read more

Pahoehoe flows tend to be relatively thin, from a few inches to a few feet thick. In map-view the flows tend to be narrow and elongate. aa lava: Aa is characterized by a rough, jagged, spinose, and generally clinkery surface. Aa lava flows tend to be relatively thick compared to pahoehoe flows. read more