All Images
News Release 09-232
Scientists Locate Deep Origins of "Hawaiian Hotspot"
Sea-floor seismometers open window into Earth's mantle beneath Hawaiian Islands
This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date; please see current contact information at media contacts.
![the topography of the Hawaiian Islands in 3-D.](/news/mmg/media/images/hotspot1_f.jpg)
The topography of the Hawaiian Islands is shown in 3-D.
Credit: Paul Johnson, University of Hawaii
Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (493 KB)
Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.
![Photo showing lava splattering near the coastal entry of Kilauea.](/news/mmg/media/images/hotspot2_f.jpg)
Lava splatters near the coastal entry of Kilauea.
Credit: Pete Mouginis-Mark, University of Hawaii
Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (282 KB)
Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.
![Photo of smooth, unbroken pahoehoe at Kilauea.](/news/mmg/media/images/hotspot3_f.jpg)
A lava flow type called pahoehoe--smooth, unbroken lava--at Kilauea.
Credit: Pete Mouginis-Mark, University of Hawaii
Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (345 KB)
Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.
![Aerial photo of Puu Oo cinder-and-spatter cone on the east rift zone of Kilauea.](/news/mmg/media/images/hotspot4_f.jpg)
Aerial photo of Puu Oo cinder-and-spatter cone on the east rift zone of Kilauea.
Credit: Pete Mouginis-Mark, University of Hawaii
Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (319 KB)
Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.
![Photo showing a lava skylight at Kilauea.](/news/mmg/media/images/hotspot5_f.jpg)
This photo shows a "lava skylight" at Kilauea.
Credit: Pete Mouginis-Mark, University of Hawaii
Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (275 KB)
Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.
![Photo of an ocean-bottom seismometer package.](/news/mmg/media/images/hotspot6_f.jpg)
An ocean-bottom seismometer package: green = seismometer, yellow = acquisition system.
Credit: Gabi Laske, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (1.6 MB)
Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.
![Photo showing the components of the seismometer acquisition packages on the deck.](/news/mmg/media/images/hotspot7_f.jpg)
On deck are the components of the seismometer acquisition packages.
Credit: Gabi Laske, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (1.8 MB)
Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.
![Cover of December 4 issue of Science](/news/mmg/media/images/hotspot8_f.jpg)
The researchers' findings appear in the December 4, 2009, issue of the journal Science.
Credit: Copyright 2009 AAAS
Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (71 KB)
Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.