Hawaii

The island of Hawaii is composed of five volcanoes: Kohala, Hualalai, Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa and Kilauea. We visited the last 3.

Mauna KeaLast erupted 4,500 years agoTallest volcano on EarthCharacterized by abundant cinder conesKnown for the astronomical observatories on its summit

Mauna Kea

Glacial features on Mauna Kea. Yes, there were glaciers on Mauna Kea. No, you can’t see much in this photo.

Puu Mahana

To get an idea as to what the inside of a cinder cone (sort of) looks like, we visit one of only two green sand beaches in the world. This beach represents an eroded littoral cone, caused by the interaction of flowing lava (associated with Mauna Loa) and seawater.

Green Sand Beach

The ash that eroded to produce the beach.

Black Sand at Punalu’u

For comparison to the green sand, here turtles are relaxing on a black sand beach. The black sand forms at a point where lava entered the sea and cooled very quickly.

Mauna LoaTallest mountain in the world (if you measure from the seafloor)Last erupted in 1984Covered with multi-colored lava flows

Observatory

At just over 11,000 feet is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Mauna Loa Observatory. The observatory has been measuring atmospheric gases, particles and solar radiation since the 1950s.

Observatory

Chinese experiment station

Observatory

The original 1950s carbon dioxide monitor

Observatory

Water-mist fire extinguisher. Computer geeks like these because the extinguishing agent doesn’t conduct electricity and it doesn’t make a mess like a regular multi-purpose dry chemical extinguisher.

Mauna Loa

In 1935, stone walls were built in an attempt to contain lava flows

KilaueaOne of the most active volcanoes on EarthHas been erupting continuously since 1983

KilaueaA large block of the Kilauea rim has partially slumped into

the caldera. Steam escapes from vents all over this slumped area.

KilaueaThe Sulphur Banks

Vents, known as solfatars, emit gases, including sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide. Condensation of these emissions leaves deposits of yellow sulfur, red hematite and white opal.

KilaueaSulphur Banks

KilaueaSulphur Banks

KilaueaSulphur Banks

KilaueaSulphur Banks

KilaueaSulphur Banks

KilaueaHalemaumau Crater: Currently active, with a lava lake

about 600 feet below its rim.

KilaueaHalemaumau Crater during the day

KilaueaAnd at night

KilaueaWith a full moon

KilaueaThe Hawaiian Volcano Observatory with its “Crisis Center”

on top.

KilaueaKilauea Iki: site of a spectacular eruption in 1959. The

eruption filled a valley with a lava lake over 400 feet deep.

KilaueaKilauea Iki valley today. The cooled lava lake is in the foreground. The source of the lava fountains is in the background. Steam rising from Halemaumau Crater is visible

in the distance.

KilaueaKilauea Iki

KilaueaKilauea Iki

The red hole is the location of the 1959 eruption.

KilaueaKilauea Iki

KilaueaRolling surface of the lava lake at Kilauea Iki.

KilaueaCooling lava lake surface broken up like sea ice

KilaueaThe high lava mark in the Kilauea Iki valley

KilaueaBorings installed by the U.S. Geological Survey to monitor the cooling of the

lava lake at Kilauea Iki. It was still partially molten until around 1990.

Kilauea IkiJanice self-extricating from a fissure at Kilauea Iki.

KilaueaPauahi Crater: An eruption in the 1970s partially filled this valley with lava. The high lava mark is visible on the far

wall.

KilaueaOhia Tree: Common on the island of Hawaii. One of the

first plants to colonize a recently emplaced lava flow.

KilaueaTree mold: actual lava and mold (somebody added the

tree).

KilaueaTree mold (tree removed)

KilaueaAncient Hawaiian petroglyph (no, I didn’t do it)

KilaueaStructure destroyed by lava flow

KilaueaRopy lava

KilaueaCross section showing banding in lava

KilaueaApproaching the ocean entry

KilaueaFlowing lava!

KilaueaLava

KilaueaLava

KilaueaNear (actually, on top of) flowing lava

KilaueaLava

KilaueaLava

KilaueaLava

KilaueaLava

KilaueaOcean entry

KilaueaOcean Entry

KilaueaOcean entry

KilaueaOcean entry

KilaueaOcean entry