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USGS · 70207370

The Pu'u ‘O’o‐Kupaianaha eruption of Kilauea

Abstract

Kilauea is nearing the 10th year of its most voluminous rift zone eruption in the last 2 centuries. Lava flows have covered 75 km 2 to depths as great as 25 m and have added almost 1.2 km 2 of new land to the island. These flows have devastated downslope communities and have provided a painful tutorial for local government in planning for and living with volcanic hazards [ Heliker and Wright , 1991]. At the same time, the accessibility and longevity of this eruption have provided a unique opportunity for quantitative studies requiring long‐term observations. This article briefly summarizes these studies, which are directed at a better understanding of eruption mechanics, lava‐flow field emplacement, and the plumbing system of Kilauea.

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90° N90° S · 180° W ← longitude → 180° E
Source-reported bounding extent: 19.093266636089712° to 19.49248592618279° latitude; -155.489501953125° to -154.8358154296875° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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BibTeXRIS

Christina C. Heliker, Thomas L. Wright. 2006-10-19. The Pu'u ‘O’o‐Kupaianaha eruption of Kilauea. https://doi.org/10.1029/90eo00372

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