Hilina Slump

The Hilina Slump, on the flank of the Kīlauea Volcano on the southeast side of the island of Hawaii, extends from the Hilina fault zone approximately south of the East Rift Zone (ERZ) to the edge of deep water.[1]
Details of the Hilina Slump.[2]

The Hilina Slump, on the south flank of the Kīlauea Volcano on the southeast coast of the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, is the most notable of several landslides that ring each of the Hawaiian Islands.[3] These landslides are the means by which material deposited at a volcano's vents are transferred downward and seaward, eventually spilling onto the seabed to broaden the island.[4]

Kīlauea's entire south flank, extending out to Cape Kumukahi, is currently sliding seaward,[5] with some parts of the central portion (overlooking the Hilina slump) moving as much as 10 centimeters (3.9 inches) per year,[6] pushed by the forceful injection of magma and pulled by gravity.[7]

Current movement of the Hilina slump and recent volcanic activity, coupled with evidence of massive submarine slides in the geological past, has led to claims that megatsunamis might result if the south flank of Kīlauea should suddenly fail. [citation needed]

  1. ^ Excerpt from Figure 2 of Denlinger & Morgan 2014.
  2. ^ Robinson et al. 2006.
  3. ^ Thompson, Watters & Schiffman 2008, p. 165; Moore et al. 1989.
  4. ^ Moore et al. 1989, p. 17,482; Denlinger & Morgan 2014, p. 155.
  5. ^ Brooks et al. 2006, p. 208.
  6. ^ Owen et al. 1995, Abstract.
  7. ^ Thompson, Watters & Schiffman 2008, p. 165; Clague & Sherrod 2014, p. 109.