The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1889-03-26
HAWAIIAN VOLCANOES.
----.s-uc-tary Notice OF Hawaiian
aarra-sc> a=sa Tfsc Bearing of
.ll- Tslepomeua on Vol.
tzurc Problems.

--e rle publication Of the Second
n- tha Tlstiges Of the Molten
la which I brought down the
account Of the eruptions of
Mamma Toaand TIilauea to the close of
H-l-rs- M Kau in February, 1887,
- James D. Dana has pub
-- q series Of papers in the Ameri-
7ra1f q Science, commencing
january number Of 1SSS, con-
detailed history Of those
c-at eraiers. with his conclu-
-a the nature Of the forces in
l iu the phenomena displayed
-ram. Having visited them in
I-- lTeolugist 10 the United States
Ezr- r-u- Expedition under COmmo-
5a Wilkes. he and the American
~ Selascr, of which he has
-la principal editor, have been
informed of. and have published
F-r. -1He 80 time the accounts Of, the
Volcanic changes which have
occurred since. He revisited Kilauea
-~-- with the special object Of OBJ
e5a. T1r himself the results OF those
turing period Of Al years.
81 one. then, j. more competent to
historical sketch OF these
--ll-e hasalt volcanoes as
r=T calls them, OF TO offer an
r lis -n the nature OF the forces
+if,,
al lnIgrite. Ii is with much
H-iCu- therefore, that l can refer
conclusions on these points,
out in the main, those at
(which bad arrived, in 50 far at least
@ .a considered the cause of the
r adv rise of the lava TO be due
some quietly acting ascensive
.a -le Iava-colUmn, indepen-
--1 er Saisaos Vol. NNNyI.,
r- the action of expanding va
-H-- -n which lie assigns but q small
Influence iu this regard
T. The effect ri elastic vaporS, how
a- La ascribes the letting in the
lakes OF kilauea, as well as the
- fountains in the bottom OF the
-ar lt AI0kUawe0wec Ny view OF
action of heated air in the lettings
a-ea he refers 10 in the follow
- rl-us-
Mr.. Brigham was led TO conclude
- li- seeing so little vapor rising
s-r-1 abe great lake during his visit,
r 400 much influence had been
-ElaI hy others 10 water, and this
e5eu is presented also by Mr.. w. i.
Green. VI Honolulu, who refers part
-la movements in the lake to es-
GAPING atmospheric air, the air being
supposed 90 be carried down by the
-g1-liu- and letting lavas there to
fl-sHu-e The source Of the splashing;
and -a become confined in this and
other ways, and be carried deeper for
other work.
and
ia -Ills account OF my Interpretation
III lie facts observed, Professor Dana
-- omitted all reference to what
-rl~ ute5 aS the primary cause OF the
lru1us movements in the other
1z~a Quietly ascending lava column;
Is. Do the effects of the violent
Ee1rigu currents which must ne
s1s-s-i-v exist i'm a column of excess |
E hot liquid which derives its |
E- from below, and is exposed to |
l-iou ar lis surface. These violent /
convection currents seem not only |
1ra-Eeally necessary effects, but TO 4
$50 matters Of observation at the |
-rsGaa lava lakes. Wherever the |
main Ur most constant letting occurs, !
a-e tic lavas viii be seen to be |
E5Ira, not coming up, as they |
should II the vapOrs from below raised 4
them. This letting action is most |
staut II the sides of the lake, |
here r VIII often continue when all |
Is u5g towards the middle. The /.
..eal VIII often be seen 10 rise at one I.
side 1t the lake, but quietly and with
-- agitation, whilst the current will |
'v flow from that point of egresS
E. some caveruous opening ut the
--lr side, where il may be seen TO be
--5u1 down; and here, let ii be OBJ
served violent letting will occur.
The raE5dly descending convection
1relrS must take air with them
which. being expanded by the heat,
-alla-eiy flies back, bringing with
ara drops which spin out the
a~-v threads called pele's hair
Another indication of the conyec-
s"-l currents and returning air Is to
seen iu the whiTlpools which
usually occur on the breaking up of
a crust Pieces Of this crust are
----r seen to Heliri round in n spiral
they descend into the vortex, and
F -he same moment jets OF molten
"a -ll-S and rings are thrown up
from the centre of it which cool to
--aS- furhe air, and which either fall
r.E into the lake or on 10 the banks
l-uuud. Ii l. not easy to understand
BOW the action Of expanding vapors
rom below could produce these de-
sending worthless, but returning
Gated air must be part OF the process
r. tEe descent OF the cooler liquid sur
la L4vers and the resulting whirl-
.rlI~
with regard to the great lava foun-
E which saw in 1873 at the bottom !
ELe summit crater-and which eX-
5rei tile characteristic features of
lesl [1uutains-I did not, and do not, |
consider il 70 have been caused either
g Var0rS, by air, or by convection
Tl-reIr~- The mechanical effects seen
70 be produced in this great fountain
.Fg-e- Ia my view, altogether different
p those which would be produced
- steam or expanding vapors, and
, which I saw no evidence what
.ver- whereas, If these tremendous
fleets had been the result of steam,
1le evidence of il would have been
scar for the quantity of steam re-
.uire5. although il may have been
and invisible below,
r6uld have condensed in the cool