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Bathymetry of southern Mauna Loa Volcano, Hawaii

Miscellaneous Field Studies Map 2233
By: , and 

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Abstract

Manua Loa, the largest volcano on Earth, lies largely beneath the sea, and until recently only generalized bathymetry of this giant volcano was available. However, within the last two decades, the development of multibeam sonar and the improvement of satellite systems (Global Positioning System) have increased the availability of precise bathymetric mapping. This map combines topography of the subaerial southern part of the volcano with modern multibeam bathymetric data from the south submarine flank. The map includes the summit caldera of Mauna Loa Volcano and the entire length of the 100-km-long southwest rift zone that is marked by a much more pronounced ridge below sea level than above. The 60-km-long segment of the rift zone abruptly changes trend from southwest to south 30 km from the summit. It extends from this bend out to sea at the south cape of the island (Kalae) to 4 to 4.5 km depth where it impinges on the elongate west ridge of Apuupuu Seamount. The west submarine flank of the rift-zone ridge connects with the Kahuku fault on land and both are part of the ampitheater head of a major submarine landslide (Lipman and others, 1990; Moore and Clague, 1992). Two pre-Hawaiian volcanic seamounts in the map area, Apuupuu and Dana Seamounts, are apparently Cretaceous in age and are somewhat younger than the Cretaceous oceanic crust on which they are built.

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Bathymetry of southern Mauna Loa Volcano, Hawaii
Series title Miscellaneous Field Studies Map
Series number 2233
ISBN 0607821965
DOI 10.3133/mf2233
Edition -
Year Published 1993
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Volcano Hazards Program
Description Map: 25.18 x 43.40 inches
Country United States
State Hawai'i
Scale 50000
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details