Kaʻū Desert
The Kaʻū Desert is a leeward desert in the district of Kaʻū, the southernmost district on the Big Island of Hawaii, and is made up mostly of dried lava remnants, volcanic ash, sand and gravel.The pH level of the rain, as low as 3.4 during an eruption, inhibits plant growth.[2] Furthermore, water evaporates quickly on the ground and the tephra soil is extremely permeable.The area is part of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, but often is closed during periods of high volcanic activity, due to the potential for poisonous gas blown southwest by the tradewinds from Halemaʻumaʻu.The eruption released volcanic ash, which formed spheres of tephra known as accretionary lapilli due to the effect of electrostatic forces and moisture.
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