WHY IN THE NEWS?

Scientists are on alert for a possible eruption of Hawaii’s Kilauea Volcano within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

About Kilauea Volcano:

• Kilauea, also called Mount Kilauea, is located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the southeastern part of the island of Hawaii, U.S.A.
• It is an active shield volcano. Historically, it is the most active of the five volcanoes that together form the Big Island of Hawaii.

What is Volcano?         

• A Volcano is an opening on the surface of a planet or moon that allows material warmer than its surroundings to escape from its interior.
• When this material escapes, it causes an eruption. An eruption can be explosive, sending material high into the sky. Or it can be calmer, with gentle flows of material.