A newly-discovered volcano, named Ka'ena, erupted 5 million years ago in the deep waters south of Kauai. It was the first of three volcanoes that would form the island of Oahu. Researchers recently showed that Ka'ena was a separate volcano, distinct from its neighbor, Wai'anae volcano.
Former island
Credit: University of Hawaii at Manoa
The blocky texture of these a'a lavas only forms in air, a clue that Ka'ena volcano once poked above the ocean surface 3 million years ago.
Friendly visitor
Credit: University of Hawaii at Manoa
Researchers snapped images of local marine life while searching for signs of past eruptions.
Sampling rocks
Credit: University of Hawaii at Manoa
Rock samples collected with a remotely operated vehicle helped prove Ka'ena volcano is older and chemical distinct from its neighbors.
Where fire meets the sea
Credit: University of Hawaii at Manoa
Sheets of hyaloclastite, a glassy lava that forms where molten rock meets the sea.
Becky Oskin covers Earth science, climate change and space, as well as general science topics. Becky was a science reporter at Live Science and The Pasadena Star-News; she has freelanced for New Scientist and the American Institute of Physics. She earned a master's degree in geology from Caltech, a bachelor's degree from Washington State University, and a graduate certificate in science writing from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Becky Oskin, Contributing Writer
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A rocky resting place
Credit: University of Hawaii at Manoa
A newly-discovered volcano, named Ka'ena, erupted 5 million years ago in the deep waters south of Kauai. It was the first of three volcanoes that would form the island of Oahu. Researchers recently showed that Ka'ena was a separate volcano, distinct from its neighbor, Wai'anae volcano.
Former island
Credit: University of Hawaii at Manoa
The blocky texture of these a'a lavas only forms in air, a clue that Ka'ena volcano once poked above the ocean surface 3 million years ago.
Friendly visitor
Credit: University of Hawaii at Manoa
Researchers snapped images of local marine life while searching for signs of past eruptions.
Sampling rocks
Credit: University of Hawaii at Manoa
Rock samples collected with a remotely operated vehicle helped prove Ka'ena volcano is older and chemical distinct from its neighbors.
Where fire meets the sea
Credit: University of Hawaii at Manoa
Sheets of hyaloclastite, a glassy lava that forms where molten rock meets the sea.
