Unified Interior Regions

The Hawaiian Islands form the young end of a chain of more than 125 volcanoes that stretch over 3,720 miles across the north Pacific Ocean.

Hawaiian volcanoes pass through a sequence of eruptive stages as they grow. There are three main types of lavas in Hawai`i which erupt during the different stages. These distinct lava types have different chemical compositions and physical properties.

Kīlauea Volcano continues to erupt from the episode 52 and 53 vents on the flank of the Pu`u `O`o cone on the East Rift Zone. For the past several weeks, the lava flow has been confined within a tube system that extends from the vent area to the coast at Kamoamoa.

Geologic mapping has come a long way since the first map accurately showing the locations of lava flows on the Island of Hawai`i was published by Stearns and Clark in 1930. A more detailed geologic map of the entire island was produced by Stearns and McDonald in 1946. 

Over the past several weeks, many east Hawaii residents have noticed the high frequency of days with poor air quality. People traveling on Highway 11 through the Glenwood/Volcano area have encountered such severe bog that they had to turn on their car lights to navigate through the hazy gloom.
 

In a double handful of molten magma (weighing about a pound), there is less than a tenth of an ounce, by weight, of dissolved gas - roughly the same weight as a pinch of table salt. Yet this tiny amount of gas can drive spectacular lava fountains hundreds of feet into the air.

The ongoing eruption on Kīlauea's East Rift Zone has continued with little change for the last month. Lava is erupting from both the episode 51 and 53 vents, both located on the southwest flank of the Pu`u `O`o cone.
 

The Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes at the University of Hawai`i in Hilo and the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory sponsored a public symposium on the prediction and mitigation of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes about a month ago. One of the topics mentioned at the symposium was the role of scientists and of other public officials.
 

The Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes at the University of Hawai`i at Hilo and the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory sponsored a public symposium on the prediction and mitigation of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes about a month ago.

Several weeks ago, on August 12, the Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes at the University of Hawai`i at Hilo and the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory held a public seminar on the prediction and mitigation of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

The eruption on Kīlauea's East Rift Zone continues with lava flowing into the sea at Kamoamoa. Lava is fed to the ocean in underground tubes from two erupting vents on the south and west sides of the Pu`u `O`o cone.