File:USGS Kīlauea multimediaFile-2066.jpg

English: Fissure 20 flow reaches the ocean: Late last night, the fissure 20 lava flow reached the ocean. Hot lava entering the ocean creates a dense white plume called "laze" (short for "lava haze"). Laze is formed as hot lava boils seawater to dryness. The process leads to a series of chemical reactions that result in the formation of a billowing white cloud composed of a mixture of condensed seawater steam, hydrochloric acid gas, and tiny shards of volcanic glass. This mixture has the stinging and corrosive properties of dilute battery acid, and should be avoided. Because laze can be blown downwind, its corrosive effects can extend far beyond the actual ocean entry area.