Introduction: The Hawaiian Islands, a popular tourist location due to the inexpensive plane fare from the West Coast, are a convenient vacation get away. When I traveled to the Big Island of Hawaii for a month trip during summer break in July 2013, with my parents, I was able to explore many of Mauna Loa and Kilauea’s volcanic activity, history, and land formations. I also was able to walk out to the lava flowing into the ocean, viewing first hand, that the Big Island is continually expanding. While there I began wondering what would happen if all volcanic activity was to cease and exactly how long it would take for the islands to completely erode away. This report is written for those interested in the islands of Hawaii, in the volcanic activities
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In Hawaii, “steep slopes, combined with flow of ground and surface water and frequent seismic episodes, create a setting prone to mass wasting by processes such as landsliding, mud flows, or slope creep” (Thornberry,10). It is important to note that “the island of Hawaii is the most seismically active place in the United States with thousands of detectable tremors each year” (Thornberry,11). With each tremor, mass wasting is possible. Growth of the islands by purely igneous mechanisms has been interrupted from time to time by massive earthquakes and significant downslope movement of loose volcanic materials to develop submarine fans. A great volume of material has been displaced into the ocean in this fashion and over time the islands have fanned outward in extent …show more content…
Thousands of years ago, the islands of Hawaii were interconnected by limestone bridges, creating a super island known as Maui-Nui. However, due to melt water and seawater warming, there has been a rise in the sea level, which has drowned these bridges and separated the islands (Riegl,471). This lets scientists know that the past has shown that a rise in level has caused previously exposed land masses to become submerged. “If all the Earth’s glaciers melted, sea level would rise approximately 230 feet worldwide” (Tarbuck,128). “A significant impact of global climate change is a rise at sea level. As this occurs, coastal cities, wetlands, and low-lying islands could be threatened with more frequent flooding, increased shoreline erosion, and saltwater encroachment into coastal rivers and aquifers”(Tarbuck,341). A rise of sea level of 230 feet would eliminate all of Hawaii’s current beaches, most of its towns and much of its land
In Hawaii, “steep slopes, combined with flow of ground and surface water and frequent seismic episodes, create a setting prone to mass wasting by processes such as landsliding, mud flows, or slope creep” (Thornberry,10). It is important to note that “the island of Hawaii is the most seismically active place in the United States with thousands of detectable tremors each year” (Thornberry,11). With each tremor, mass wasting is possible. Growth of the islands by purely igneous mechanisms has been interrupted from time to time by massive earthquakes and significant downslope movement of loose volcanic materials to develop submarine fans. A great volume of material has been displaced into the ocean in this fashion and over time the islands have fanned outward in extent …show more content…
Thousands of years ago, the islands of Hawaii were interconnected by limestone bridges, creating a super island known as Maui-Nui. However, due to melt water and seawater warming, there has been a rise in the sea level, which has drowned these bridges and separated the islands (Riegl,471). This lets scientists know that the past has shown that a rise in level has caused previously exposed land masses to become submerged. “If all the Earth’s glaciers melted, sea level would rise approximately 230 feet worldwide” (Tarbuck,128). “A significant impact of global climate change is a rise at sea level. As this occurs, coastal cities, wetlands, and low-lying islands could be threatened with more frequent flooding, increased shoreline erosion, and saltwater encroachment into coastal rivers and aquifers”(Tarbuck,341). A rise of sea level of 230 feet would eliminate all of Hawaii’s current beaches, most of its towns and much of its land