Magma supply, storage, and transport at shield-stage Hawaiian volcanoes

Abstract

For more information on the USGS-the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment-visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1-888-ASK-USGS (1-888-275-8747) For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http: //www.usgs.gov/pubprod To order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner.Suggested citation: Poland, M.P., Takahashi, T.J., and Landowski, C.M., eds., 2014, Characteristics of Hawaiian volcanoes: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1801, 428 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/pp1801. ForewordThe Hawaiian Islands and their volcanoes have featured prominently in the history of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) nearly back to the 1879 founding of the organization. In 1882, USGS Director John Wesley Powell sent Captain Clarence E. Dutton, an officer in the United States Army who was detailed to the USGS, to Hawai'i-then still an independent kingdom-to study its volcanic geology in preparation for mapping in the Cascade Range. Dutton was an inspired choice for the assignment. He was already well known for his explorations in the western United States, thanks in large part to his vivid written accounts of the Grand Canyon region, and his observations of the volcanoes, land, and people of Hawai'i after 4 months of field work (published as part of the "4th Annual Report of the U.S. Geological Survey" in 1884) are no less engaging. Dutton's experience in Hawai'i was a great aid to his subsequent assignment as the head of the USGS Division of Volcanic Geology, which mapped volcanoes throughout California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. USGS work in Hawai'i subsequently shifted toward water resources, especially as related to agricultural development. In 1909, USGS geologist Walter Mendenhall toured the islands and established a framework for systematic observations that were eventually assumed by what had become the Territory of Hawaii. In 1919, the Territory requested a comprehensive assessment of the geology and water resources of the entire island chain. One of the main participants in this work was USGS geologist Harold T. Stearns. Over the ensuing 30 years, Stearns published 12 comprehensive reports (Hawaii Division of Hydrography Bulletins) covering the characteristics of every major Hawaiian island (except Kauai, which was covered in 1960 in volume 13 by another longtime USGS geologist, Gordon Macdonald). The work of Stearns and his colleagues has stood the test of time and is still an important resource for geologists working throughout the State.In 1924, the USGS took over operation of th...

Magma decompression rates during explosive eruptions of Kīlauea volcano, Hawaii, recorded by melt embayments

“…The vents for both these eruptions were located inside KīlaueaÕs summit caldera and these storage depths are consistent with the inferred depth of the main sub-caldera reservoir (Poland et al, 2014). In contrast the embayment from Kīlauea Iki ep.…”

“…The simplified plumbing system shown is to illustrate the constraints on ascent given by the embayment models and does not reflect the actual complexities of melt storage beneath Kīlauea (e.g. see Poland et al, 2014).…”

“…The 1959 Kīlauea Iki vent was located on the rim of the caldera (Fig 1), which is not the case for most summit eruptions and implies a somewhat different ascent path. If these melts were fed through the sub-caldera reservoir, for example as suggested by Poland et al (2014), this does not appear to have affected exsolution of CO 2 , implying minimal interaction with any resident magma. Ascent timescales based on our average decompression rates vary from ~2-7 minutes for the c. 1500 reticulite and c. (Fig.…”

Three‐dimensional seismic velocity structure of Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcanoes in Hawaii from local seismic tomography

“…The middle ERZ is dominated by low-V p ∕V s ratios (<1.7) from 0 to 15 km depth. Poland et al [2013] suggested that the increased supply at Pu'u 'O'o-Kupaianaha during 2003-2007 must have been driven by increased flux of magma from the mantle, which is supported by increased CO 2 emissions. The low-V p and low-V p ∕V s anomalies observed in our model are consistent with the existence of CO 2 and were also observed by Hansen et al [2004].…”

Cycles of explosive and effusive eruptions at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i

“…Perhaps caldera formation results from reduction in magma supply to the shallow storage reservoir, a term we use for a confi guration of multiple magma storage volumes (Fiske and Kinoshita, 1969;Dawson et al, 2004;Baker and Amelung, 2012;Poland et al, 2014). If magma supply dropped signifi cantly, eruptions or intrusions might deplete the shallow reservoir, eventually leading to collapse of the overlying edifi ce.…”