How big are the volcanoes in Hawaii?

Explain how volcanoes form in Hawaii or in Hawaii?

• Answer:

  Volcanoes in Hawaii form when the tectonic plate of the pacific creeps over Hawaiiʻs hot spot. As the hot magma pours out of the hot spot it slowly creates a small mound at the deep ocean floor. As the magma continuously oozes out, the mound gets bigger and bigger eventually piercing the surface of the ocean. More and more the magma flows the larger the mound becomes, eventually becoming an atoll. As the atoll increases in size it becomes an island. Remember, during the time the island is being created, the tectonic plates are still moving, so every year each island moves left and up about 2 inches. So if you looked at the Hawaiian Island chain you will notice that Niʻihau and Kauaʻi are at the top left. These two islands were once in the location of Hawaiʻi aka the Big Island.