Ka'u Desert - John Seach

Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii

Ka'u desert covers an area of Kilauea volcano along the South West rift zone. The lack of vegetation is due mainly to acid rainfall (30-50 inches per year). Warm descending winds and high ground permeability cause increase evaporation and rainwater infiltration.

Silica coatings in Ka'u desert have been used as a Mars analog terrain. Chemical similarities between Kilauea volcano and high-silica deposits at Gusev (Mars) suggest that deposits on Mars are the product of extended periods of similar acid-sulfate leaching.

Kilauea volcano...
Kilauea caldera...