Geol 285 - Petrology, Dr. Helen M. Lang, West Virginia University, Fall 2007
Hawaiian Volcanism
Pacific Ocean Floor Topography
Linear Age/Distance Relation indicates ~constant rate of motion of Pacific
Plate
over the Hawaiian Hot Spot ~8.6 cm per year
The emergent Hawaiian Islands
Trade winds come from the Northeast
Exotic vegetation near Hilo, NE (wet) coast of Hawaii
History of a typical Hawaiian Volcano (See Handout, and read it carefully)
The Hawaiian Islands
Hawaii "The Big Island" in relief
Hawaii "The Big Island"
Mauna Loa from space
Classic Shield Volcanoes, 5-10o slope
Volcanoes on the "Big Island" illustrate shield building (2a-c) and capping (3)
stages
Mauna Loa and Kilauea have been most active in the 20th Century
Tour of Kilauea
Kilauea Volcano - Hawaii
Kilauea Caldera 1823, 1979
Historic Lava Flows in Kilauea Caldera and Vicinity
Crater Rim Drive, Kilauea, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Kilauea Caldera from the air
Halemaumau Crater inside larger Kilauea Caldera
Crater Rim Drive, Kilauea, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
in 1959 Pu’u Pu’ai erupted
basaltic pumice (or cinders)
Thurston Lava Tube