Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Rates of volcanic activity along the southwest rift zone of Mauna Loa volcano, Hawaii

  • Published:
Bulletin Volcanologique Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Flow by flow mapping of the 65-km-long anbaerial part of the southwest rift zone and adjacent flanks of Mauna Loa Volcano, Hawaii, and about 50 new14C dates on charcoal from beneath these flows permit estimates of rates of lava accumulation and volcanic growth over the past 10,000 years.

The sequence of historic eraptions along the southwest rift zone, beginning in 1868, shows a general pattern of uprift migration and increasing eruptive volume, culminating in the great 1950 eruption. No event comparable to 1950, in terms of volume or vent length, is evident for at least the previous 1,000 years. Rates of lava accumulation during the historic period were several times higher than the average rate for the preceding few thousand years along the southwest rift zone and adjacent flanks. Rates of lava accumulation along the zone have been subequal to those of Kilauea Volcano during the historic period but they were much lower in late prehistoric time (anpubl. Kilauea data byR.T. Holcomb). Thus, only about 30% of the surface of the southwest side of Mauna Loa has been covered by lava during the last 1,000 years, as contrasted with about 90% of the subaerial surface of Kilauea.

Rates of surface covering and volcanic growth have been markedly asymmetric along Mauna Loa’s southwest rift zone. Accumulation rates have been about half again as great on the northwest side of the rift zone in comparison with the southeast side. The difference apparently reflects a westward lateral shift of the rift zone of Mauna Loa away from Kilauea Volcano, which may have acted as a barrier to symmetrical growth of the rift zone.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Brigham, W.T., 1909,The Volcanoes of Kilauea and Mauna Loa on the Island of Hawaii. Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum Hemoir,2, no. 4, 222 pp.

  • Dana, J.D., 1890,Characteristes of Volcanoes. Dodd, Mead, and Co., New York, 399 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evernden J.F., Savage, D.E., Curtis, G.H., andJames, G.T., 1964,Potassium Argon Dates and the Cenozoic Mammalian Chronology of North America. Am. Jour. of Science,262, p. 145–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finch, R.H., 1948,The Active Periods of Mauna Loa, The Volcano Letter, No. 499, p. 1–3.

  • ----- andMacdonald, G.A., 1953,Hawaiian Volcanoes during 1950. U.S. Geol. Surv. Bull.,996-OB, 89 pp.

  • Fisher, R.V., 1968,Puu Hou Littoral Cones, Hawaii, Geol. Runds.,57, p. 837–864.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fornari, D.J., Peterson, D.W., Lockwood, J.P., Halahoff, A., andHeezen, B.C., 1979,Submarine Extension of the Southwest Rift Zone of Mauna Loa Volcano, Hawaii: Visual Observations from U.S. Navy Deep Submergence Vehicle (DSV) Sea Cliff. Geol. Soc. of America Bull.,90, p. 435–443.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hitchcock, C.H., 1911,Hawaii and Its Volcanoes. Hawaiian Gazette, Honolulu, 314 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holcomb, R.T., 1979,Century-scale Changes in Eruptive Behavior of Hawaiian Volcanoes (abs.): Abstract volume, Hawaiian Sympoisum on Intraplate Volcanism and Submarine Volcanism, Hilo, Hawaii, p. 164.

  • -----, 1980,Chronology and Morphology of the Superficial Lava Flows of Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii. Pg. D. dissertation, Stanford University.

  • Jaggar, T.A., 1919, (untitled): Hawaii Volcano Observatory Bulletin,7, p. 127–134, 145, 145–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelley, H.L., Spiker, E.C., Lipman, P.W., Lockwood, J.P., Holcomb, R.T., andRubin, M., 1979,U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, Radiocarbon Dates XV: Mauna Loa and Kilauea Volcanoes, Hawaii. Radiocarbon,21, p. 306–320.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lipman, P.W., 1980,The Southwest Rift Zone of Mauna Loa: Implications for Structural Evolution of Hawaiian Volcanoes. Am. Jour. of Science, p.

  • —————, andYamashita, K.M., 1978,Changed Deformation Mode of Kilauea Volcano since the 1975 M=7.2 Earthquake (abs.). Geol. Soc. of America, Abstracts with Programs,10, p. 113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lockwood, J.P., 1979,Geologic Asymmetry of the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa Volcano, Hawaii-Evidence for a Mobile South Flank (abs.): Abstract volume, Hawaii Symposium on Intraplate Volcanism and Submarine Volcanism, Hilo, Hawaii, p. 170.

  • —————, andPeterson, D.W., 1976,Mauna Loa Threatening. Geotimes,21, p. 12–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • ----- andLipman, P.W., in press,Recovery of Datable Charcoal beneath Young Lavas-Lesson from Hawaii. Bull. Volcanol, 43-3.

  • Macdonald, G.A., 1944,The 1942 Eruption of Mauna Loa, Hawaii. Am. Jour. of Science,241, p. 241–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • -----,Abbott, A.T., 1970,Volcanoes in the Sea — The Geology of Hawaii. Honolulu University Hawaii Press, 441 pp.

  • ----- andOrr, J.B., 1950,The 1949 Summit Eruption of Mauna Loa, Hawaii. U.S. Geol. Surv. Bull.974-A,, 33 pp.

  • —————, andWentworth, C.K., 1952,The Kona Earthquake of August 21, 1951, and Its Aftershocks. Pacific Science,6, p. 269–287.

    Google Scholar 

  • McDougall, I. andSwanson, D.A., 1972,Potassium-Argon Ages of Lavas from the Hawi and Pololu Volcanic Series, Kohala Volcano, Hawaii. Geol. Soc. of America Bull.,83, no. 12, p. 3731–2738.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, J.G., 1971,Relationship between Subsidence and Volcanic Load, Hawaii. Bulletin Volcano.,34, no. 2, p. 562–572.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Normark, W.R., Lipman, P.W. andMoore, J.C., 1979,Regional Slump Structures on the West Flank of Mauna Loa Volcano, Hawaii (abs.): Abstract volume, Hawaii Symposium on Intraplate Volcanism and Marine Volcanism, Hilo, Hawaii, p. 172.

  • Stearn, H.T. andClark, W.O., 1930,Geology and Water Resources of the Kau District, Hawaii. U.S. Geological. Survey Water Supply Paper 616, 194 p.

  • ----- andMacdonald, G.A., 1946,Geology and Groundwater Resources of the Island of Hawaii. Hawaii Div. of Hydrography Bull.,9, 363 p.

  • Swanson, D.A., 1972,Magma Supply Rate of Kilauea Volcano, 1952–1971. Science,175, p. 169–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • -----,Duffield, W.A., andFiske, R.S., 1976,Displacement of the South Flank of Kilauea Volcano: the Result of Forceful Intrusion of Magma into the Rift Zones. U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Paper963, 39 pp.

  • Tilling, R.L., Koyanagi, R.Y., Lipman, P.W., Lockwood, J.P., Moore J.C. andSwanson, D.A., 1976,Earthquake and Related Catastrophic Events, Island of Hawaii, November 29, 1975: a Preliminary Reports. U.S. Geol. Surv. Circular740, 33 pp.

  • United States Navel Oceanographic Office, 1973,Bathymetric Atlas of the North Pacific Ocean, Map Sheet 1064 N.

  • Wentworth, C.K., Powers, H.A., andEaton, J.P., 1961,Feasibility of a Lava-diverting Barrier at Hilo. Hawaii. Pacific Science,15, p. 352–357.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood, H.O., 1917,Notes on the 1916 Eruption of Mauna Loa. Jour. of Geology,25, p. 322–336, 467–488.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. Geological Survey, 80401, Denver, Colorado

    P. W. Lipman

Authors
  1. P. W. Lipman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lipman, P.W. Rates of volcanic activity along the southwest rift zone of Mauna Loa volcano, Hawaii. Bull Volcanol 43, 703–725 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02600366

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02600366

Keywords