The Growing Volcanic Risk at Kīlauea and Mauna Loa

In-line multiple fissures at Leilani Estates, mid May 2018. Residences at left. Photo use permission: USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and SIC Tina Neal

BY POPULAR DEMAND, the Lyman Museum will present “The Growing Volcanic Risk of Kīlauea and Mauna Loa” on two additional dates:  Monday, September 21, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. and Tuesday afternoon, September 22, 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. 

 Evening Presentation:

From May 3 to early August 2018, Kīlauea erupted from two sites with a pattern and vigor not seen in the past 200 years.  Summit eruptions and repeated caldera collapses sent magma reservoir roof blocks into the molten reservoir below, triggering earthquakes and sending surges of magma into east rift zone conduits.  Some 38 km away, voluminous lava eruptions within the lower east rift zone devastated communities, laying waste to homes, farms, and coastal resorts.  These distant and seemingly different eruptions were in fact intimately connected.  In addition, Mauna Loa is currently slowly building toward eruption; it too contains rift zones that loom over settled areas and contribute to a significant and now potentially more dangerous volcanic risk.  Dr. Michael Ryan, of the Magma Physics Project in Hilo, explains and illustrates these critical interrelationships on your choice of two occasions:  Monday evening, August 24, or the following afternoon, August 25.  

Admission to these wonderful programs is free to Museum members, and $3.00 for nonmembers.  Owing to COVID-19 safety restrictions, masks that meet CDC guidelines must be worn and physical distancing observed.  Temperature checks will be made before you enter the Museum. Seating is therefore very limited; you must reserve your seat/s in advance by calling during business hours, and must check in at the front desk prior to the presentation.  Check-in begins at 6:30PM Monday evening, 2:30PM Tuesday afternoon.  First called, first reserved!  ON MONDAY EVENINGS ONLY, additional parking is available next door at Hilo Union School, Kapiolani St. entrance; park, then walk through our green gate in the rock wall.  E komo mai!