How much new land is created in the world by volcanoes each year?
Byron
Halavik
Hi Byron,
You've asked a tough question! I don't even know how many volcanoes erupt lava
that makes it to the ocean. Kilauea lava flows have been flowing into the ocean
since late 1992. In one 1-month period they added about 60 acres of new land.
However, much of that new land later collapsed into the ocean. Because this
happens all the time it is hard to calculate the amount of new land until the
eruption finally ends.
Another volcano that has recently added new land to its coastline is Fernandina
in the Galapagos islands. I don't have any idea how much was added, though.
At least for Hawai'i, I can tell you that the current eruption has added
about 500 acres of new land since 1986. The volcanologist who answered
the question is named Tari Mattox, and I bet she'd like to hear from you
about your volcano studies.
You can write to her at:
USGS HVO
PO Box 51
HVNP, Hawaii
96718
Sincerely,
Scott Rowland, University of Hawaii
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