Kilauea 2/9

Activity for 2/7-2/8:

At the summit, at Halema`uma`u crater there was lava spattering in at least two places in the bottom of the crater, and the lava level was rising. The amount of sulfur dioxide gas leaving the vent is still elevated compared to the 2003-2007 average amount. GPS receivers recorded expansion at the Halema`uma`u crater. Seismic tremors increased at 9 PM last night and then decreased. There was a normal amount of smaller earthquakes that occurred. There were five earthquakes beneath Kilauea that were able to be located.

At the Pu`u`O`o crater there was an increase in seismic tremors, and the tremor level was constant at the TEB vents. GPS receivers recorded expansion of the rock at the Pu`u`O`o crater.The number of small earthquakes were within normal ranges. Scientists were able to map out a pahoehoe lava flow from the TEB vent, and they discovered that it had moved 700 meters in the last five days.

Kilauea is currently erupting, and is a very active volcano. Click here to read about the activity at nearby volcano Mauna Loa. After you have read about the current activity at Mauna Loa and about the current activity at Kilauea mentioned in this post, respond to this post by comparing and contrasting the current activity at these two volcanoes.

Posted by Emma Heaps

Properties of Magma Study Questions

1. Viscosity is a physical property. Viscosity of a substance can be observed without changing the chemical composition of the substance.

2. As viscosity increases a liquid will flow more slowly. So a high viscosity means a slower flowing liquid. A low viscosity means a faster flowing liquid.

3. Increased friction between particles mean higher viscosity (more resistance to flowing). So increased friction also mean a liquid will flow more slowly.

4. Temperature and silica content effect the viscosity of magma.
Higher temperature means a lower viscosity.
Higher silica content means a higher viscosity. (think "silica is sticky")

Aa is higher viscosity magma, and pahoehoe is lower viscosity magma.

Posted by Emma Heaps

Kilauea 2/8

Activity from 2/6-2/7:

At the summit, at Halema`uma`u crater there was lava spattering in at least two places in the bottom of the crater, and the lava level was rising. Inflation of the summit that had been occurring was decreased. There were seven earthquakes beneath Kilauea that were able to be located.

At the Pu`u`O`o crater there also a decrease in inflation that had been occurring. Seismic activity at both the Pu`u`O`o vent and TEB vent was low.

Seismic activity and earthquakes are important to scientists when they are study volcanoes. You can click here to see a map of recent earthquakes on the island of Hawaii. Then, click here to read about monitoring seismic activity near volcanoes, and use the information from this website to respond to either one of the two prompts below.

1. What happens in a volcano to trigger earthquakes?
2. How do scientist measure seismic activity at volcanoes?

Posted by Emma Heaps

Volcanoes and Plate Tectonics Study Questions

1. Volcanoes typically occur at plate boundaries (although they can also occur at hot spots). The occur at plate boundaries because these are place in the crust where magma can come to the surface.
2. At a divergent plate boundary the plates pull apart. In between the plates magma can come to the surface and create a volcano. Volcanoes can occur at both divergent boundaries on land and divergent boundaries in the ocean floor.
3. At convergent plate boundaries where subduction is occuring volcanoes can exist. As one plate is subducted beneath the other some of the rock will melt into magma and create volcanoes. This can happen where two oceanic plates collide (this creates and island arc) or where one continental and one oceanic plate collide.
4. At hotspot mantle material has melted and risen near the surface where it can easily erupt as magma and form a volcano.
5. EXAMPLES

Convergent- Alaskan volcanoes, Indonesia (island arc), Phillipines

Diveregent- Seafloorspreading/mid-ocean ridges, volcaneos in the Great Rift Valley

Hot spot- Hawiian islands, Yellowstone

Posted by Emma Heaps

Kilauea 2/5

Activity for 2/3-2/4:

At the Summit:
At Halema`uma`u crater lava was visible through 3 openings in the bottom of the crater. The glow from the lava is more intense than it has been recently. Nine earthquakes were able to be located below Kilauea last night. Small background earthquakes also occurred, but only the larger earthquakes are able to be located. Pieces of ash were carried out of the crater by the gases leaving the vent.

TEB Vents: Lava continues to flow out of the TEB vents and down the flow field.

Click here and look at recent pictures of Kilauea. Specifically, be sure to look at the February 3rd pictures of aa lava. Then, search for on the internet or look in a book to read about characteristics of aa lava. Respond to this post by describing some characteristics of aa lava (what is aa lava like?).

Posted by Emma Heaps

Kilauea 2/4

Activity at Kilauea from 2/2-2/3.

Activity a both the summit and at Thanksgiving Eve Breakout vents continued. Lava flowed out to surface flows at the eastern rift zone. Still no lava is flowing through the ocean entry.

At the summit the GPS system detected and elevated number of seismic tremors. Many earthquakes occurred that were so small that their exact location could not be determined. There were 5 earthquakes that were large enough to be located below Kilauea.

Earthquakes often occur where there is eruption and movement at volcanoes. Click here to read more about volcanic earthquakes. After reading the linked page, comment by answering this question:
Why do you think that people live near to Kilauea if earthquakes are signaling an eruption? Think about how lava flows and the activity at Kilauea. There is no right or wrong answer, just be sure to explain yourself.

Posted by Emma Heaps

Kilauea 2/3

Activity for 2/1- 2/2 at Hawaiian volcano Kilauea.

Activity was occuring at two of Kilauea's vents; the summit vent and the TEB, or Thanksgiving Eve breakout vent.

At the summit, the summit vent is emmiting a sulfur dioxide containing gas plume. Also, at the Halema`um`ua crater the lava was seen falling and rising.

At the Pu'u'O'o crater gases (including sulfur dioxide) are also released. The magma is then traveling to the TEB vent and erupting.

Kilauea is a shield volcano, and the fact that it is a shield volcano explains the pattern of lava flows and eruption that we see there. Click here to learn more about shield volcanoes. Read carefully through this website, then below post a response that tells me something you have learned about shield volcanoes from reading the site.

Posted by Emma Heaps