From May 3 to early August 2018, Kilauea erupted from two sites with a pattern and vigor not seen in the past 200 years.
Summit eruptions and repeated caldera collapses sent magma reservoir roof blocks into the molten reservoir below, triggering earthquakes and sending surges of magma into East Rift Zone conduits. Nearly 24 miles away, voluminous lava eruptions within the lower East Rift Zone devastated communities, laying waste to homes, farms and coastal locations.
These distant and seemingly different eruptions were in fact intimately connected. In addition, Mauna Loa is currently slowly building toward eruption; it, too, contains rift zones that loom over settled areas and contribute to a significant and now potentially more dangerous volcanic risk.
Michael Ryan of the Magma Physics Project in Hilo explains and illustrates these critical inter-relationships during “The Growing Volcanic Risk at Kilauea and Mauna Loa” program as part of the Lyman Museum’s Saigo series. By popular demand, the program will be presented again from 7-8:30 p.m. Sept. 21 and 3-4:30 p.m. Sept. 22.
Admission is $3 or free to museum members.
Because of COVID-19 safety restrictions, masks that meet CDC guidelines must be worn and physical distancing observed. Temperature checks also will be taken before entering the museum.
Seating is therefore very limited; anyone interested in attending must reserve seats in advance by calling the museum during business hours, and audience members must check in at the front desk prior to the presentation. Check in begins at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 21 and 2:30 p.m. Sept. 22. First called, first reserved.
On Monday evening only, additional parking is available next door at Hilo Union School. Park, then walk through the green gate in the rock wall.
Lyman Museum is located at 276 Haili St. in downtown Hilo.
For more information or to reserve your seat, call 935-5021 or visit www.lymanmuseum.org.
The museum also can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lymanmuseum.