03-26-2014, 03:18 PM
The "new" theory on Kilauea published in 2011 is a little different than what Carol is saying. ItÔs not talking about the shield volcano exploding. ItÔs talking about the nature of the eruption cycling between slow gentle flows and explosive gaseous eruption that hurls rocks and is dangerous at long distances from the source.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Hawai...355889.php
If I spent more time looking I could find something more scientific sounding than SFgate, but this is essentially what came out and was widely published.
They now know that Kileaua cycles between the two stages, and they donÔt say that the explosive cycle is a result of pressure build-up. It goes on too long to be a response to build-up.
The current cycle has been 200 years of lava flows, but before that 300 years of explosive eruption, including the explosion that instantly killed the marching warriors way off on the coastal plane in 1790.
The prior explosive cycle lasted 1200 years.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Hawai...355889.php
If I spent more time looking I could find something more scientific sounding than SFgate, but this is essentially what came out and was widely published.
They now know that Kileaua cycles between the two stages, and they donÔt say that the explosive cycle is a result of pressure build-up. It goes on too long to be a response to build-up.
The current cycle has been 200 years of lava flows, but before that 300 years of explosive eruption, including the explosion that instantly killed the marching warriors way off on the coastal plane in 1790.
The prior explosive cycle lasted 1200 years.
quote:The next explosive stage could start at any time or not for another thousand years. They donÔt know. They monitor the summit crater for telltale signs.
The geologic record shows that Kilauea's activity has been marked by a period dominated by frequent lava flows from about 2,500 to 2,200 years ago, followed by a long period of explosive eruptions that continued for about the next 1,200 years; then another 500 years of lava flows, followed by about 300 years of eruptions, and then by more lava flows that continue today.