Mauna Kea
| Mauna Kea |
|---|
Missing image
Mauna_Kea.jpg
Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawai'i with a light dusting of snow. Viewed from Kohala Mountain |
| Elevation: |
13,803 ft (4207 m) |
| Location: |
Hawaii, USA |
| Range: |
Hawaiian Islands |
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Coordinates:
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19° 49′ 15.7″ N 155° 28′ 06.0″ W
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Topo map:
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USGS Mauna Kea
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Type:
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Shield volcano
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Age of rock:
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Ma
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Last eruption:
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2500 BC
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Mauna Kea is a dormant
volcano in the
Hawaiian Islands, one of five volcanic peaks that together form the
Island of Hawaii.
In
Hawaiian mauna kea means "white mountain", a reference to the fact that it is regularly snow or frost capped during the northern hemisphere winter. The top of the mountain peaks out at 4,207 m (13,803 ft) on Pu'u Wēkiu (one of numerous
cinder cones on the summit), the highest point in the Hawaiian Islands. It is also the tallest mountain in the world when measured from the base under the surface of the
Pacific Ocean to the summit (10,203 m or 33,476 ft).
Although snow and ice occur now mostly in the period from November through March, Mauna Kea had permanent (year-round) ice caps during the
Pleistocene ice ages. The summit shows evidence of four periods of glaciation over the last 200,000 years, the last ending about 11,000 years ago.
The elevation and location of Mauna Kea have made it an important location for atmospheric and
astronomical observations. The summit is above approximately 40% of Earth's atmosphere and 90% of the water vapor, allowing for exceptionally clear images. Additionally, the peak is well above the
inversion layer, allowing up to 300 clear nights per year. Also, at 20°N latitude, much of both the northern and southern skies are visible. Finally, the fact that it's a
shield volcano has meant that road transportation to the summit is relatively easy. All of these factors have made Mauna Kea a prime target for state-of-the-art astronomy, and the summit is home to many different
observatories.
See also:
External links
See also: Mauna Kea
