This slippage of the flanks of Kilauea and Mauna Loa occurs continuously but is punctuated by larger movements that are associated with the larger earthquakes. Over much longer periods of time, perhaps once every few hundred thousand years, the flanks of these volcanoes fail as giant landslides that dissect the edifices and deposit blocky debris on the sea floor far from the islands. The talk will focus on a display of sonar data of the sea floor that reveals many of these catastrophic landslides. Other features of the sea floor around the islands will also be discussed. The Lyman Museum is located at 276 Haili Street in Hilo.
Admission is free.