answersLogoWhite

0

The Hawaiian Islands are volcanic in origin. Each island is made up of at least one primary volcano, although many islands are composites of more than one. The Big Island, for instance, is constructed of 5 major volcanoes: Kilauea, Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, Hualalai and Kohala. Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano on Earth. Kilauea is presently one of the most productive volcanoes on Earth (in terms of how much lava it produces each year).

In general, when you move along the island chain from East to West, the volcanoes become older and older. The two primary volcanoes that make up Oahu (where Honolulu is) have not erupted for well over a million years! The age trend of the volcanoes is thought to be due to the way in which the islands are built on the moving sea floor of the North Pacific Ocean: the Pacific Ocean is mostly floored by a single tectonic plate that is moving over the layer in the Earth known as the Asthenosphere. This movement takes it to the northwest compared to the layers below it at a rate of 5 to 10 cm/yr (the rate depends on where you are on it). As the plate moves over a fixed spot deeper in the Earth where magma (molten lava) forms, a new volcano can punch through this plate and create an island. The Hawaiian Islands are believed to be formed from one such 'hot spot'. As the plate moves away, the volcano stops erupting and a new one is formed in its place. With time, the volcanoes keep drifting westward and getting older relative to the one active volcano that is over the hot spot.

For more information, ask yor public librarian for a copy of "Volcanoes in the Sea: The Geology of Hawaii" by Macdonald, Abbott and Peterson (2nd ed.) Univ. of Hawaii Press, Honolulu (1983).

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

What mountain range is hualalai volcano on?

the hawaiian volcanos range


How many people did hualalai volcano kill?

Hualalai volcano, located in Hawaii, has not caused any direct fatalities from eruptions. However, there have been deaths and injuries related to volcanic hazards such as rockfalls. The last eruption was in 1801.


What damage did hualalai volcano cause?

The most recent eruption in 1801 produced lava flows that destroyed houses and agricultural land on the western flank of Hualalai volcano in Hawaii. There were no casualties, but the damage was significant to local communities. Seismic activity and ground deformation are closely monitored to mitigate potential hazards from future eruptions.


Where in Hawaii was the volcano?

There are many volcanoes in Hawaii. Each island was formed by a volcano, and there are still five active volcanoes there: Loihi, Kilauea, Mauna Loa, Hualalai, and Haleakala. The Hawaiian islands are moving over what is called a "hot spot" below the earth's crust, and as the tectonic plate slides over, new volcanoes are formed.


Who discovered hualalai and when did they discover it?

The Hawaiian volcano Hualalai was discovered by James Cook during his visit to the Hawaiian Islands in 1778. Cook saw the volcanic peak from a distance while sailing along the coast of the island of Hawaii.


How is the Alaska volcano not the youngest volcano?

After the Alaska volcano formed, other volcanoes have formed.


How many volcanos are in Hawaii?

there are 5 kilauea and mauna kea and mauna loa and hualalai and kohala kilauea is the activest volcano in Hawaii and mauna loa is the biggest volcano in Hawaii! i should know because i live in Hawaii


Where may a crater be formed on a volcano?

a crater can be formed anywhere in a volcano. its usually formed at the top though.


What type of volcano is Haleakala in Hawaii?

Haleakala in Hawaii is a shield volcano. Shield volcanoes are characterized by their gentle sloping sides and widespread lava flows, resulting from low-viscosity magma. This type of volcano typically has relatively quiet eruptions.


What is the definition of a intermittent volcano?

Mount AsamaMount EtnaMount Hualalai


Which volcano still erupts in Hawaii?

Mauna Loa and Kilauea. Hualalai is listed as active but not errupting. Mauna Kea is listed as Dormant and Kohala is listed as extinct.


What volcano in Hawaii is a live?

There are actually five,Loihi, Kilauea, Mauna Loa, Hualalai, and Haleakala.