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Giant Hawaiian Underwater Landslides
Giant Hawaiian Underwater Landslides
Giant Hawaiian Underwater Landslides

Large-scale poster describing USGS work.

The USGS, in cooperation with the UK Institute of Oceanographic Sciences (IOS) and others, took images of the seafloor 200 miles around the Hawaiian Islands using GLORIA. GLORIA is a long-range sonar that gives a bird’s-eye view of the seafloor.

Large-scale poster describing USGS work.

The USGS, in cooperation with the UK Institute of Oceanographic Sciences (IOS) and others, took images of the seafloor 200 miles around the Hawaiian Islands using GLORIA. GLORIA is a long-range sonar that gives a bird’s-eye view of the seafloor.

Lava bubble burst explosion, Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i...
Lava bubble burst explosion, Kīlauea, Hawai‘i
Lava bubble burst explosion, Kīlauea, Hawai‘i
Lava bubble burst explosion, Kīlauea, Hawai‘i

A thin-walled lava bubble expands and bursts. These "bubble bursts" occur when seawater infiltrates the lava tube system near the shore. Such bubble bursts produce translucent sheets of spatter, or limu o Pele.

A thin-walled lava bubble expands and bursts. These "bubble bursts" occur when seawater infiltrates the lava tube system near the shore. Such bubble bursts produce translucent sheets of spatter, or limu o Pele.

Glacial end moraine deposits (right of center) from the Manakaka Gl...
Glacial end moraine deposits (right of center) from the Manakaka Gl...
Glacial end moraine deposits (right of center) from the Manakaka Gl...
Glacial end moraine deposits (right of center) from the Manakaka Gl...

The deposits are found between about the 11,000 and 12,000 ft elevation. The cinder cones left of the glacial deposits were erupted between 70,000 and 13,000 years ago, and the irregular surface below the cones and glacial deposits consist of lava flows erupted during the same time frame.

The deposits are found between about the 11,000 and 12,000 ft elevation. The cinder cones left of the glacial deposits were erupted between 70,000 and 13,000 years ago, and the irregular surface below the cones and glacial deposits consist of lava flows erupted during the same time frame.

Northeast flank Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i from about 5,200 ft to summit. P...
Northeast flank Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i from about 5,200 ft to summit. P...
Northeast flank Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i from about 5,200 ft to summit. P...
Northeast flank Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i from about 5,200 ft to summit. P...

The light colored lava flows in foreground are part of the older Laupahoehoe Volcanics, erupted between 70,000 to 13,000 years ago. one of the youngest cinder cones erupted by the volcano,

Upper south flank of Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i. Prominent cinder cone (low...
Upper south flank of Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i. Prominent cinder cone (low...
Upper south flank of Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i. Prominent cinder cone (low...
Upper south flank of Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i. Prominent cinder cone (low...

Pu‘u Keonehehe‘e and the two small cones immediately to the northwest (left) are among the youngest cones erupted on the volcano, as recent as about 4,000 years ago. The other cones in this view are part of the Laupahoehoe Volcanics, but much older, dating to 70,000 years ago.

Pu‘u Keonehehe‘e and the two small cones immediately to the northwest (left) are among the youngest cones erupted on the volcano, as recent as about 4,000 years ago. The other cones in this view are part of the Laupahoehoe Volcanics, but much older, dating to 70,000 years ago.

Deformation measurements on the Mount St. Helens' dome; three geolo...
Deformation measurements on the Mount St. Helens' dome; three geolo...
Deformation measurements on the Mount St. Helens' dome; three geolo...
Glacial deposits of the Waihu Glacial Member exposed in gulch on SW...
Glacial deposits of the Waihu Glacial Member exposed in gulch on SW...
Glacial deposits of the Waihu Glacial Member exposed in gulch on SW...
Glacial deposits of the Waihu Glacial Member exposed in gulch on SW...

Glacial deposits of the Waihu Glacial Member exposed in unnamed gulch on southwest flank of Mauna Kea at about 3,020 m (9,900 ft) elevation. Ages of both the glacial deposits and lava flows are poorly known, estimated to within about 150,000 to 70,000 years ago. Pole is 1.5 m (5 ft) long.

Glacial deposits of the Waihu Glacial Member exposed in unnamed gulch on southwest flank of Mauna Kea at about 3,020 m (9,900 ft) elevation. Ages of both the glacial deposits and lava flows are poorly known, estimated to within about 150,000 to 70,000 years ago. Pole is 1.5 m (5 ft) long.

Lava bubble burst explosion produces thin sheets of spatter known a...
Lava bubble burst explosion produces thin sheets of spatter known a...
Lava bubble burst explosion produces thin sheets of spatter known a...
Lava bubble burst explosion produces thin sheets of spatter known a...

Lava bubble bursts are a relatively mild form of explosion that occurs when a lava tube at, or below sea level, fractures abruptly, allowing seawater to enter the tube system. As the infiltrating seawater comes into contact with molten lava in the tube, the water is heated to steam in an instant.

Lava bubble bursts are a relatively mild form of explosion that occurs when a lava tube at, or below sea level, fractures abruptly, allowing seawater to enter the tube system. As the infiltrating seawater comes into contact with molten lava in the tube, the water is heated to steam in an instant.

Tephra jet explosion, Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i...
Tephra jet explosion, Kīlauea, Hawai‘i
Tephra jet explosion, Kīlauea, Hawai‘i
Tephra jet explosion, Kīlauea, Hawai‘i

Explosive interaction between lava and seawater blasts a tephra jet consisting of steam, hot water, black tephra, and molten fragments into the air. This explosion is directed primarily toward the sea, but many explosions also send a shower of lava more than 10 to 20 m inland.

Explosive interaction between lava and seawater blasts a tephra jet consisting of steam, hot water, black tephra, and molten fragments into the air. This explosion is directed primarily toward the sea, but many explosions also send a shower of lava more than 10 to 20 m inland.

Mount Adams southern view as seen from Trout Lake, Washington. Trou...
Mount Adams southern view as seen from Trout Lake, WA. Trout Lake s...
Mount Adams southern view as seen from Trout Lake, WA. Trout Lake s...
Mount Adams southern view as seen from Trout Lake, WA. Trout Lake s...

Mount Adams southern view as seen from Trout Lake, Washington. Trout Lake sits on thick lahar deposits that originated as a debris avalanche 6,000 years ago.

Mount Thielsen (2,799 m or 9,182 ft) is an extinct volcano north of...
Mount Thielsen (2,799 m or 9,182 ft) is an extinct volcano north of...
Mount Thielsen (2,799 m or 9,182 ft) is an extinct volcano north of...
Mount Thielsen (2,799 m or 9,182 ft) is an extinct volcano north of...

Mount Thielsen (2,799 m or 9,182 ft) is an extinct volcano north of Crater Lake, Oregon that last erupted 250,000 years ago. Aerial view.

Mount Thielsen (2,799 m or 9,182 ft) is an extinct volcano north of...
Mount Thielsen (2,799 m or 9,182 ft) is an extinct volcano north of...
Mount Thielsen (2,799 m or 9,182 ft) is an extinct volcano north of...
Mount Thielsen (2,799 m or 9,182 ft) is an extinct volcano north of...

Mount Thielsen (2,799 m or 9,182 ft) is an extinct volcano north of Crater Lake, Oregon that last erupted 250,000 years ago. Diamond Lake is in the background.

Glowing lava flowing down a stream channel with tall rock banks.People watch from the bank tops.
Lava flow enters Queens Bath, Kilauea Volcano, 1987
Lava flow enters Queens Bath, Kilauea Volcano, 1987
Lava flow enters Queens Bath, Kilauea Volcano, 1987

Bystanders watch steam rising from Queens Bath as lava flow enters the water. Lava overran Highway 130 at 0748 Hawaii Standard Time on the same morning at the western margin of the Kapa'ahu flow. By the end of the day, Punalu'u heiau was overrun, and Queens Bath was filled with lava.

Bystanders watch steam rising from Queens Bath as lava flow enters the water. Lava overran Highway 130 at 0748 Hawaii Standard Time on the same morning at the western margin of the Kapa'ahu flow. By the end of the day, Punalu'u heiau was overrun, and Queens Bath was filled with lava.

pāhoehoe flow advancing through mango trees toward a house in Kalap...
pāhoehoe flow advancing through mango trees toward a house in Kalap...
pāhoehoe flow advancing through mango trees toward a house in Kalap...
Lava flow (marked by smoke from burning vegetation) moving into Kal...
Lava flow (marked by smoke from burning vegetation) moving into Kal...
Lava flow (marked by smoke from burning vegetation) moving into Kal...
Lava flow (marked by smoke from burning vegetation) moving into Kal...

Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō cone is visible on skyline at center. In the foreground are the Mauna Kea Congregational Church (right of center) and fishponds (lower left) bounded by the Hakuma horst, the uplifted, elongate block at lower left. View is to the northwest.

Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō cone is visible on skyline at center. In the foreground are the Mauna Kea Congregational Church (right of center) and fishponds (lower left) bounded by the Hakuma horst, the uplifted, elongate block at lower left. View is to the northwest.

Dome building eruption at Mount St. Helens—30-minute, moon-lit expo...
Dome building eruption at Mount St. Helens—30-minute, moon-lit expo...
Dome building eruption at Mount St. Helens—30-minute, moon-lit expo...
Dome building eruption at Mount St. Helens—30-minute, moon-lit expo...

The last dome-building eruption of Mount St. Helens during the 1980s occurred in October 1986. A new lobe was extruded, increasing the dome's height to 925 feet (282 meters), making it taller than a 77-story building. In volume, the dome was nearly 40 times the size of Seattle's Kingdome stadium.

The last dome-building eruption of Mount St. Helens during the 1980s occurred in October 1986. A new lobe was extruded, increasing the dome's height to 925 feet (282 meters), making it taller than a 77-story building. In volume, the dome was nearly 40 times the size of Seattle's Kingdome stadium.

View of the Spirit Lake outlet tunnel, built in 1985, that allows w...
View of the Spirit Lake outlet tunnel, built in 1985, that allows w...
View of the Spirit Lake outlet tunnel, built in 1985, that allows w...
View of the Spirit Lake outlet tunnel, built in 1985, that allows w...

View of the Spirit Lake outlet tunnel, built in 1985, that allows water to drain out of Spirit Lake safely and maintain the lake's water level 100 ft (30 m) below the estimated overtopping level.

pāhoehoe flow from the fissure eruption at the site of the Kupaiana...
pāhoehoe flow from the fissure eruption at the site of the Kupaiana...
pāhoehoe flow from the fissure eruption at the site of the Kupaiana...
pāhoehoe flow from the fissure eruption at the site of the Kupaiana...

New pāhoehoe flows are overriding dark ‘A‘ā flows from Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, 3 km uprift (in background). The Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō conduit failed on July 18, triggering fissure eruptions both up- and downrift of the cone. On July 20 (beginning of episode 48), the fissure at this site began to erupt, initiating 5.5 years of near-continuous effusion from the Kupaianaha vent.

New pāhoehoe flows are overriding dark ‘A‘ā flows from Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, 3 km uprift (in background). The Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō conduit failed on July 18, triggering fissure eruptions both up- and downrift of the cone. On July 20 (beginning of episode 48), the fissure at this site began to erupt, initiating 5.5 years of near-continuous effusion from the Kupaianaha vent.

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