Hawaiian volcanoes

Author:

Dutton, Clarence E., Halliday, William R.

Title:

Hawaiian volcanoes

Year:

2005

Pages:

xix, 235 p.

Subject:

Volcanoes Hawaii Island Dutton, Clarence E. 1841-1912 Hawaii description and travel Geology Hawaii Island

Summary:

A beautifully written description of Kilauea, Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, Kohala, and Hualalai, with an account of journeys about the island of Hawaii in 1882, and a partial summary of the history of volcanic eruptions in Hawaii, including a good description of the 1868 eruption of Mauna Loa. The Pahala ash in the Kau District is believed to be an elevated marine deposit. The formation of littoral cones is described, and the Kahuku cliff is recognized as a fault scarp. The term "caldera" is first applied to the great summit depressions of Kilauea and Mauna Loa. Convection currents and the rise of very hot gas bubbles are suggested as agents maintaining the liquidity of the Kilauea lava lake. Kilauea is regarded as a distinct volcano, independent of Mauna Loa. The calderas are believed to result from collapse, caused by melting of the underlying rocks in the vicinity of the lava column and consequent removal of support. Caldera formation is regarded as an episode of the middle and later stages of growth of the volcano. It is pointed out that flank activity of Mauna Loa is preceded by summit activity. It would seem that there is a continuous accumulation of eruptive energy and materials within the mountain, which at first seek escape through the summit orifice, but as accumulation goes on the mountain is ruptured, lavas are discharged lower down on the flanks, and the volcanic energy is temporarily depleted. The eruption of lavas from a fissure several hundred feet above open vents on the caldera floor is suggested to be due to gas inflation of the liquid. The hypothesis that volcanic activity results from the absorption of vadose water vapor into underlying magmas is examined and rejected. The spasmodic character of volcanic eruptions is recognized, and believed due to the activation of successive portions of the reservoir by acquisition of elastic expansive force. Conditions at Kilauea in 1882 and Mokuaweoweo in 1878 and 1882, and the source fissure of the Mauna Loa eruption of 1880 are described. The first flow of 1880 is stated to have spread out in the Humuula Saddle, and its source to have been about a mile upslope from that of the slightly later Kau flow. The source of the flow of 1855 is stated to be a short distance downslope to the northwest of that of the first 1880 flow.

URL:

http://archive.org/details/agm4167.0001.001.umich.edu

Collection:

Monographs