Would an Eruption in Melbourne Really Match Hawaii’s Volcanoes?

Here's the Evidence

Early morning view of fissure 8 and lava channel of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii. USGS

Spectacular images of recent volcanic eruptions in Hawaii are a little disheartening—especially given news reports suggesting there is a sleeping volcano under Melbourne that could awaken and erupt at any moment.

Understanding the geological differences between Melbourne and Hawaii is really helpful in working out how we can keep an eye on future risks in Australia.

The Newer Volcanics Province

Victoria and South Australia do host an active volcanic field, called the Newer Volcanics Province (NVP). This is not a single volcano with a large single chamber of molten rock (magma)—the common image of a volcano—but a widespread field of multiple small volcanoes, each with a small volume of magma.