[Rockhounds] [SPAM] Re: Hawaii eruptions and earthquakes

[gary brown]

We should be there visiting the Beloved Kitty (tm) in about 3 weeks!  She's
had such WONDERFUL things to say about Axel.  Simply WONDERFUL.  <gag>

GcB

-----Original Message-----
From: Rockhounds <rockhounds-bounces at rockhounds.drizzle.com> On Behalf Of
Axel Emmermann
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2018 12:25 PM
To: 'Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors'
<rockhounds at rockhounds.drizzle.com>
Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] [SPAM] Re: Hawaii eruptions and earthquakes

It's indeed BIG.
If I recall it right, Mauna Loa is the heaviest volcano on earth. Also the
longest (it think Mauna Loa is Hawaiian for "Long Mountain".)

Seen from the shore on Captain Cook's landing site, Mauna Loa doesn't look
all that impressive. The volcano, although being a shield volcano, has some
foothills.
Captain Cook sent his 1st officer with some men to go and find out what was
beyond "them there" hills.
After nearly a week they returned with the answer: "Nothing... they keep
going up forever".
If you stand on top of Mauna Kea (13.802 ft) and look towards Mauna Loa
(only 120 lower), you don't get the feeling of overwhelming size. That's
because there is little to compare the immense size of those volcanoes with
other things in the landscape. You can see a layer of blue haze near the top
of Mauna Loa. That is sulfur dioxide exhaust from the volcano.
Many people get altitude sickness, though. We saw a pretty sunset an were
waiting for the galaxy to appear in the darkening sky... We just saw the
moon and Jupiter and one star. 
Bill Heacox (Kitty's husband and Astronomy professor at Hilo University) ,
who took us there, explained that due to the height our brain is deprived of
oxygen and shuts down all unnecessary functions... such as detailed color
vision. You just cannot see the stars except for the brightest celestial
objects.  
After descending 4.660 ft to the visitors Center (9.200 ft), the galaxy
burst into a truly majestic display of stars of different colors.

After Pele settles down, quakes have quoken, and tops have blown, I can
recommend going there.... It's paradise without having to pass by St.
Peter....

Cheers
Axel