Hawaii Volcano Project
evaluate the geology of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and compare it with Yellowstone National Park geology, volcanic history and natural hazards. The volcanoes in Hawaii are the result of an oceanic hot spot. As part of your research you will need to identify: o what active volcanoes are in the park o what type or types of lava are erupted from these volcanoes o what causes the melting that produces the lava o whether the process of melting in Hawai’i similar to or different than Yellowstone You also need to discover the relationship between the Hawaiian volcanoes and the Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain, and answer the following question: o Why are there not active volcanoes on all of the Hawaiian Islands, and what is the youngest volcano?
Geology comparison:
Geology
Volcanic history Natural hazards
Active volcanoes Types of lava erupted Cause of meting the produces lava Process of meting different? More questions:
Geology comparisons Hawaii Volcanoes Among the most active volcanoes in the world, Mauna Loa most massive mountain in the world; have 3 rift zones (have cinder cones, spatter cones, pit craters, open fissures); Kilauea – two rift zones ; How made.. Poses unique hazards to visitors – including volcanic eruptions earthquakes and tsunamis that have come form the National Park Muana Loa, Kilauea Has spread acoss 5 broad areas;
Hawaiian Emperor seamount chain; why no active volcanoes on all Hawaiian islands; youngest volcano?
Yellowstone
Our world is an ever-changing landscape, beyond human control. This is so clearly seen in the volcanoes of Hawaii national park … Active volcanoes in the park: There are currently active volcanoes in Hawaii. Mauna Loa, erupting in 1984, and Kilauea, continuously erupting since 1983; both of which are on the Island of Hawaii in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. In contrast Yellowstone national park houses the Yellowstone Caldera, which some consider a “supervolcano,” meaning its capable of eruption of more the 240 cubic miles of magma.
Types of lava from these volcanoes: Hawaii -> Laval is basalt – 50% silica, 10% each of iron, magnesium calcium; 15% aluminum, 2% titanium and 2% sodium Mauna Loa – active shield volcano with relatively gentle slopes, about 18,000 miles3; lava eruptions are silica-poor and very fluid, tend to be non-explosive. The flows tend to be larger and faster moving than Kilauea; one of Earth’s most active volcanoes, erupted 33 times since 1843; The oldest remnants of subaerial Mauna Loa are to be found in an interesting rock formation known as the "Ninole Volcanic Series". It is a series of steep-sided hills, consisting of thin layers of pahoehoe and a'a lava. These hills form the so-called "Ninole Shield" which is thought to be either the remnants of a pre-Mauna Loa volcano, or uplifted blocks of old Mauna Loa from within the Honuapo-kaoiki fault system. Either way, they are some of the oldest exposed rocks on the southern part of the island. Kilauea – also considered one of the most active volcanoes on Earth, nearly continuously erupting since 1983; unlike many other active volcanoes, it is approachable – considered the “drive-up” volcano because of ease of access; basaltic shield volcano, erupts type of basalt – tholeites – lava type is dominant extrusive during shield building (main stage) of volcano (5); can also erupt alkali basalt, but usually in pre- and post- shield stages, minor at Kilauea today; alkali basalts have high concentrations of Na and K and lower {Si] relative to tholeites – believed to be due to differences in extent of melting in mantle (alkali basalts are smaller-degree melts). Yellowstone Caldera – produce lava flows of either basalt or rhyolite most likely What causes melting that produces lava: (7) In Hawaii, lava is “supplied in lava tubes that extend from vents on the flank fo the Pu’u ‘O’o cone down to the ocean. A skylight provides a view into a lava tube.” Lava comes from the melting of the mantle 60 km below the surface of the Earth. This magma, or liquid rock, rises through conduits to a reservoir beneath the summit of Kilauea. The magma travels through a dike that extends from the summit down into the flank of the volcano, rises up from the dike to the vents at the surface, transported in tubes down to the coast. As the lava travels down to ocean, the temp drops and the first crust forms (at around 500 C).
3 ways volcanoes can form – subduction zones, mid-ocean ridges, and hots spots! (7) Hot spot: occurs because of intense heat of outer core; heat radiates through mantle, bringing solids rock upward to the hot spot (areas of rising solid rock = mantle plumes). Rock begins to melt in the lower pressure of the upper region – forming magma- which rises until it reaches surface forming a volcano. Most hot spots located at mid-ocean ridges, BUT few located in the middle of plates – Hawaii and Yellowstone The volcanoes of Hawaii are a result of a hot spot The volcanoes of Yellowstone are a result of hot spot also! – sits on top of a continental hot spot – as N. American plate moves steadily W, hot spot affects different areas of continent. Geysers and hots springs are a reminder that there is a huge volcano underneath the scenery. As Pacific plate moved NW, produced Hawaiian islands one at a time; 1st to form over hot spot was Kauai; as pacific plate moved W, formed Oahu (capital and largest city of Honolulu is located on this extinct volcanic island; Oahu, Molakai, Lanai, and Maui all share same volcanic base – formed from separate volcanoes that were connected by huge lava flows; Big Island is the only one with active volcanoes in the island gourp. Konala, Hualaiai, Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and Kilauea volcanoes have built the island. Mauana Loa is the largest on Earth (313,684 ft above sea level;
A caldera – large bowl-shaped crater formed by collapse of volcanic cone after an eruption; after huge ejection of lava, may be no magma left in the chamber to fill the conduit and crater – hollow space under summit where magma used to be, the top of the mountain then collapses creating a caldera; One of the largest calderas in the world (over 65 miles across) Exact same process that formed Hawaii Islands and Yellowstone – N. American plate moved W, slowly moved over hot spot, hot spot created volcanic features through the western portion of the US
Hawaiian volcanoes and Hawaiian Emperor seamount chain relationship All the islands in the Emperor Seamount-Hawaiian chain all formed over the same hot spot that is currently under the big island of Hawaii today. The Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain is the Hawaiian Islands and the emperor Seamounts Consists of dozens of volcanoes and is well knowns for its peculiar 60 degree bend. 1963 – John Tuzo Willson explained that the Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain was created by a hotspot of volcanic actiivaty that was essentially stationary as the Pacific tectonic plate drifted NW
Why are there not active volcanoes on all the islands? Kohala, the oldest volcano, is considered extinct; Mauna Kea is considered dormant; Youngest volcano? Kilauea – youngest and most active on Island of Hawaii
Sources: (1) “Yellowstone Volcano: Frequently Asked Questions.” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/volcanoqa.htm. (2) “Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park (U.S. National Park Service).” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm. (3) “Mauna Loa Volcano.” Mauna Loa Volcano, Hawaiian Center for Volcanology, 27 Sept. 2015, www.soest.hawaii.edu/GG/HCV/maunaloa.html. (4) “Ask An Earth Scientist.” Lavas Erupted at Kilauea Today, Ask An Earth Scientist, www.soest.hawaii.edu/GG/ASK/kilauea-lava.html. (5) Program, Volcano Hazards. USGS: Volcano Hazards Program YVO Yellowstone, volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/yellowstone/yellowstone_hazard_44.html. (6) “Volcano World.” Hotspot Volcanoes - Hawaii and Yellowstone, Oregon State University, volcano.oregonstate.edu/hot-spot-volcanoes-hawaii-and-yellowstone-lesson-9. (7) “Volcano Hazards Program.” Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, USGS, 12 May 2017, volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/hvo_volcanoes.html. Pictures: https://images.csmonitor.com/csm/2015/03/0303Chile_Volcano_Eruption.jpg?alias=standard_600x400 http://cdn.natgeotv.com.au/factsheets/thumbnails/YellowstoneEarthQuakeHeader.jpg?v=27& azure=false&scale=both&width=1024&height=560&mode=crop
