This month, the nationally accredited and Smithsonian-affiliated Lyman Museum is observing the third annual Volcano Awareness Month, and 2012 marks the centennial of the founding of Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Throughout January and February, the museum is offering public programming on topics relating to volcanoes and volcanology, to complement its special exhibit, Hawaii Volcanoes: 1880s to Present, on display through March 31. The museum, located at 276 Haili St. in Hilo, is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For further information, call 935-5021 or visit online at www.lymanmuseum.org.
Of the five volcanoes that make up the island of Hawaii, Kilauea and Mauna Loa are by far the most active. Mauna Loa last erupted in 1984 and showed signs of reawakening in the 2000s, but has been mostly quiet since 2009.
In contrast, Kilauea has erupted almost continuously since 1983 from its east rift zone, and in 2008 a second vent opened at its summit.
This past year was an especially vigorous time for Kilauea, with fissure eruptions, lava lakes, and crater overflows occurring throughout 2011. On Monday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Lyman Museum, U.S. Geological Survey geophysicist Michael Poland will share his knowledge on the current state of activity at these two volcanoes and how scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory keep track of the changing conditions at Hawaiian volcanoes.
Admission to this program is $3, but free for museum members. Seating is limited to 65 persons on a first-come, first-seated basis. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
This month, the nationally accredited and Smithsonian-affiliated Lyman Museum is observing the third annual Volcano Awareness Month, and 2012 marks the centennial of the founding of Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Throughout January and February, the museum is offering public programming on topics relating to volcanoes and volcanology, to complement its special exhibit, Hawaii Volcanoes: 1880s to Present, on display through March 31. The museum, located at 276 Haili St. in Hilo, is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For further information, call 935-5021 or visit online at www.lymanmuseum.org.