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Archive for April, 2006
Studying ‘hot stuff’ at Kilauea
Apr 27th
Among the scientists who study volcanoes, the petrologists are the ones who do detailed studies of the “hot stuff” in order to understand the behavior of eruptions. Petrology is literally the “study of rocks,” and petrologic monitoring means tracking and interpreting the changes in chemistry and mineralogy of lava during an eruption. When dormant volcanoes awaken, petrologists make quick assessments of the initial ash or lava to classify the type of magma erupted. These analyses tell us about processes that drive volcanic activity beneath the surface. The information is then used to evaluate hazards associated with continuing eruptions.
Studying ‘hot stuff’ at Kilauea
Apr 27th
Among the scientists who study volcanoes, the petrologists are the ones who do detailed studies of the “hot stuff” in order to understand the behavior of eruptions. Petrology is literally the “study of rocks,” and petrologic monitoring means tracking and interpreting the changes in chemistry and mineralogy of lava during an eruption. When dormant volcanoes awaken, petrologists make quick assessments of the initial ash or lava to classify the type of magma erupted. These analyses tell us about processes that drive volcanic activity beneath the surface. The information is then used to evaluate hazards associated with continuing eruptions.
Kilauea summit active in 2006
Apr 7th
The summit of Kilauea began inflating in the fall of 2003. This was a major change, because, for the most part, it had been doing the opposite-gradually deflating-since the start of the current eruption, way back in January 1983. During those two decades, the summit was operating on a deficit, with more magma going out-moving down the east rift zone to erupt at Pu`u `O`o-than coming in.
