Kama'ehu: Hawai'i's Undersea Volcano Erupted Five Times in 150 Years

Researchers at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa have discovered that the undersea volcano Kama'ehu has erupted at least five times in the past 150 years. This is the first time the ages of these eruptions have been estimated, shedding light on the growth and evolution of the volcano. The study also revealed that Kama'ehu's lava chemistry changes over a timescale of about 1200 years, in contrast to the more rapid changes observed in lava from the neighboring volcano Kīlauea. The findings provide insights into the behavior of Hawaiian volcanoes and the role of the mantle plume beneath the Hawaiian hotspot.