Geologic guide to the island of Hawaii : a field guide for comparative planetary geology

Author:

Greeley, Ronald, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory,, National Aeronautics and Space Administration,

Title:

Geologic guide to the island of Hawaii : a field guide for comparative planetary geology

Year:

1974

Pages:

v, 257 p.

Subject:

Geology Hawaii Island guidebooks

Summary:

Although the role of volcanism in the geology of Earth has long been recognized, its full significance among the geologic processes was not realized until data gathered for the ocean basins revealed extensive basaltic lava flows. The occurrence and effects of volcanism on other planets is also beginning to emerge. Mariner missions to Mars have shown that volcanic processes dominate several regions of Mars, evidenced by tremendous shield volcanoes, dome volcanoes, flood-type lava flows, and fissures. Recent Mariner 10 imagery for Mercury also shows flow-like features of probable volcanic origin. With geological data available for all inner planets except Venus, we are entering an era of true comparative planetary geology, when knowledge of the differences and similarities for classes of structures (e.g., shield volcanoes) will lead to a better understanding of general geological processes, regardless of planet. Thus, it is imperative that planetologists, particularly those involved in geological mapping and surface feature analysis for terrestrial planets, be familiar with volcanic terrain in terms of its origin, structure, and morphology. One means of gaining this experience is through field trips in volcanic terrains - hence, the Planetology Conference in Hawaii. This guidebook was prepared both for the participant who is new to Hawaii and for those who are familiar with the Islands. Each of the eight principal Hawaiian Islands extending from Kauai on the northwestern end of the chain to Hawaii at the southeastern extremity represents the top of a great basaltic shield volcano that rises 4575 m above the ocean floor. The ages of the islands quite consistently decrease toward the southeast. Kauai is judged to be about 5.3 million years old, whereas Hawaii is less than 750,000 years in age. The ravages of time have had serious effects on the once dome-like older volcanoes, so that unless viewed from selected points of observation the traditional shield shape is lost in a fretwork of peaks, ridges, palis, valleys, and plains.

Date:

1974

Collection:

Monographs