https://youtu.be/XwjVL3BwYtU&rel=0
And here is Erta Ale — the lava lake he mentions:
https://youtu.be/WBpsigmUf_A&rel=0
I can’t find the source just now but believe that this type of fresh lava looks gray in daylight because of atomic-level changes in its surface that suddenly is exposed to air temps hundreds of Celsius degrees colder than it is — not sure if that’s actually glass, but instead of the usual mineral crystals, you do get something gray, shimmery, and very short-lived.
More information:
- Global Volcanism Program (GVP) Erta Ale page
- GVP Dallol page
- Putting it into perspective with Wikipedia
- Lucy’s species.
Lagniappe:
https://youtu.be/uLahVJNnoZ4&rel=0
This model (there are others) doesn’t exactly show a future ocean where Lucy once climbed trees, but you could probably fish there, 250 million years from now. What might be driving these plate movements?
Featured image: Ian Swithinbank, CC BY-ND 2.0.
Flight To Wonder 