Implications of historical eruptive-vent migration on the northeast rift zone of Mauna Loa Volcano, Hawaii

Abstract

Research Article| July 01, 1990 Implications of historical eruptive-vent migration on the northeast rift zone of Mauna Loa Volcano, Hawaii John P. Lockwood John P. Lockwood 1U.S. Geological Survey, P.O. Box 51, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii 96718 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information John P. Lockwood 1U.S. Geological Survey, P.O. Box 51, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii 96718 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1990) 18 (7): 611–613. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1990)018<0611:IOHEVM>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation John P. Lockwood; Implications of historical eruptive-vent migration on the northeast rift zone of Mauna Loa Volcano, Hawaii. Geology 1990;; 18 (7): 611–613. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1990)018<0611:IOHEVM>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Five times within the past 138 yr (1852, 1855-1856, 1880-1881, 1942, and 1984), lava flows from vents on the northeast rift zone of Mauna Loa Volcano have reached within a few kilometres of Hilo (the largest city on the Island of Hawaii). Most lavas erupted on this rift zone in historical time have traveled northeastward (toward Hilo), because their eruptive vents have been concentrated north of the rift zone's broad topographic axis. However, with few exceptions each successive historical eruption on the northeast rift zone has occurred farther southeast than the preceding one. Had the 1984 eruptive vents (the most southeasterly yet) opened less than 200 m farther southeast, the bulk of the 1984 lavas would have flowed away from Hilo. If this historical vent-migration pattern continues, the next eruption on the northeast rift zone could send lavas to the southeast, toward less populated areas.The historical Mauna Loa vent-migration patterns mimic the southeastern "younging" of the Hawaiian-Emperor volcanic chain and may be cryptically related to northwestward movement of the Pacific plate. Systematic temporal-spatial vent-migration patterns may characterize eruptive activity at other volcanoes with flank activity and should be considered as an aid to long-term prediction of eruption sites. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.