Images of the Shield Building Stage
(Kilauea and Mauna Loa) |
Much of the
development of the Hawaiian Island
shields takes place underwater, and
volcanoes that are exposed today are
already three miles high when we see
them as islands. The next Hawaiian
shield, Loihi, is already more than
two miles high, but will not be
exposed for tens of thousands of
years. Kilauea and Mauna Loa are the
two youngest and most active shields
in the Hawaiian Islands. Kilauea is
hard to photograph as a distinct
entity, being so flat across the
summit and with gentle slopes,
except where the palis (fault scarp
cliffs) interrupt the smooth
topography. Mauna Loa, at almost
14,000 feet, dominates views of the
Big Island. Both volcanoes are
highly active; Kilauea has been
erupting continuously since 1983,
while Mauna Loa last erupted in
1984. |
Kilauea |
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Summit
caldera (Halema`uma`u) of Kilauea
from Hawaii Volcanoes Observatory
(HVO) |
Summit
region of Kilauea, looking east from
HVO with Kilauea Iki in distance. |
Summit of
Kilauea from Halema`uma`u parking
lot (now inaccessible) |
Western edge
of the Kilauea summit caldera.
Halema`uma`u crater on left |
Slope of
Kilauea towards the southwest rift
zone (2004) |
South slope
of Kilauea with pali (2004) |
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Southwest
Rift of Kilauea from edge of summit
caldera |
Southwest
Rift of Kilauea from edge of summit
caldera, Mauna Loa in distance |
Halema`uma`u and rim of Kilauea
caldera. This viewpoint is presently
closed due to eruptive activity |
Halema`uma`u
and rim of Kilauea caldera.
Buildings of HVO at upper left |
Summit
region of Kilauea, looking east from
HVO with Kilauea Iki in distance. |
Halemaumau
in eruption (2009) in the Kilauea
caldera |
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Pu`u `O`o
crater on the East Rift zone of
Kilauea. Source of most of the
1983-2010 lavas |
Pu`u `O`o
crater on the East Rift zone of
Kilauea. Source of most of the
1983-2010 lavas |
Aerial view
of South flank and pali of Kilauea's
East Rift Zone |
Aerial view
of East Rift Zone of Kilauea, recent
Pu'u O'o flows in foreground |
Aerial view
of East Rift Zone of Kilauea, with
erupting Pu'u O'o and lava tube
system |
Entire Pu'u
O'o flow from rift zone to ocean
entry |
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Aerial view
of East Rift Zone of Kilauea, with
erupting Pu'u O'o and lava tube
system |
Halema'uma'u
erupting in 2009 inside Kilauea
caldera |
Halema'uma'u erupting in 2009 inside
Kilauea caldera |
Pali on
flank of Kilauea (with lava flow in
2002) |
Kilauea
shield on horizon, from Honu'apu,
from the southwest |
Kilauea
shield on horizon, from Honu'apu |
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Mauna
Loa |
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Mauna Loa
from Mauna Kea Road |
Mauna Loa
from Mauna Kea Road |
Mauna Loa
from Mauna Kea Road. Cinder cones in
foreground |
Mauna Loa
from Mauna Kea Road. Cinder cones in
foreground |
Mauna Loa
from Mauna Kea Road. Cinder cones in
foreground |
Mauna Loa
from Saddle Road. A'a lava flow in
foreground |
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Mauna Loa
from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park |
Mauna Loa
from Mauna Kea. Vog from Kilauea
eruption |
Mauna Loa
from Mauna Kea. Vog from Kilauea
eruption |
Mauna Loa
from Mauna Kea and numerous cinder
cones |
Mauna Loa
from Mauna Kea. |
Aerial view
of Mauna Loa from north end of Big
Island |
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Aerial of
Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa |
Three giant
shields: Haleakala on Maui, and
Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea on the Big
Island |
Mauna Loa
from South Point shoreline |
Mauna Loa
from South Point shoreline |
Mauna Loa
from South Point shoreline |
Mauna Loa
from Waimea area |
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Mauna Loa
from Waimea area |
Mauna Loa
from Saddle Road |
Mauna Loa
from Saddle Road |
Mauna Loa
from Saddle Road |
Mauna Loa
shield from Hilo on a very
uncharacteristic cloudless day
(2004) |
Mauna
Loa shield from Hilo on a very
uncharacteristic cloudless day |
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Images of the
Capping,
Erosional and Rejuvenation Stage |
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