Rapid Deformation of the South Flank of Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii

1995/03/03 by S. E. Owen, P. Segall, Jeffrey T. Freymueller +5 · 2 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · #earthquake and tectonic studies #High-pressure geophysics and materials #Seismic Waves and Analysis #Flank #Geology #Volcano #Seismology #Rift zone #Lateral eruption #Rift #Magma #Tectonics #Anatomy

paper · doi:10.1126/science.267.5202.1328

openalex publication_date 1995/03/03 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23

Abstract

The south flank of Kilauea volcano has experienced two large [magnitude (M) 7.2 and M 6.1] earthquakes in the past two decades. Global Positioning System measurements conducted between 1990 and 1993 reveal seaward displacements of Kilauea's central south flank at rates of up to about 10 centimeters per year. In contrast, the northern side of the volcano and the distal ends of the south flank did not displace significantly. The observations can be explained by slip on a low-angle fault beneath the south flank combined with dilation deep within Kilauea's rift system, both at rates of at least 15 centimeters per year.

Citations

• The 1962 flank eruption of Kilauea volcano and structure of the east rift zone
• Dynamic basis of volcanic spreading
• Prodigious submarine landslides on the Hawaiian Ridge
• Surface deformation due to shear and tensile faults in a half-space

Cited by

• Structural variability along the submarine south flank of Kilauea volcano, Hawai'i, from a multichannel seismic reflection survey
• Hilina Slump [wikipedia]