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| Eruption on volcanic flank of Kilauea on Big Island |
Volcanic eruptions in the middle of the Pacific Ocean have been occurring for over 80 million years, forming islands, such as the Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain, that move along on tectonic plates only to erode and disappear below the water's surface. Meanwhile, the hotspot that supplies the magna shooting up as lava to form new islands migrates at will. The newest Hawaiian island in the making, originally known as Lo'ihi, began its eruption process about 400,000 years ago.
That is one energetic hotspot!
Back in the 1990's is when we first heard about the discovery of the young volcano flowing just south of the Big Island of Hawaii. Exciting news when we thought we'd be watching the growth in real time. Then the timeline of progress for Lo'ihi was announced: it was expected to reach sea level in 10,000 to 100,000 years. Wait time was long, like it's new name: Kama'ehuakanaloa, "glowing child of Kanaloa", the god of the ocean.
For above-sea viewing of volcanic eruptions, though, Hawaiian residents have Kilauea, the volcano on the southern flank of the Big Island. Possibly 600,000 years old, Kilauea erupted steadily from 1983 to 2018, its longest active eruption. In July 2024, Big Island earthquakes beneath Kilauea marking seismic activity were felt on O'ahu, a reminder that Madame Pele (goddess of volcanoes and fire and the creator of the Hawaiian Islands) is still active.
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| ERUPTION by Michael Crichton & James Patterson |
From my review of ERUPTION: For decades, volcanoes have fascinated me. Seeing Kilauea up close and walking Devastation Trail on the Big Island of Hawaii were memorable lifetime experiences. I knew Michael Crichton would include plenty of satisfying and well-researched information in his story, not only about Mauna Loa but about Madam Pele. As a kama'aina, I wasn't disappointed.
*****
