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Mauna Loa, a massive mountain which is also earth's most massive active volcano, is bathed in pink and gold light. Its summit is off limits and it is subject to daily updates from USGS due to increased seismicity. Photo by A Lavalle/USGS |
The last eruption of Mauna Loa occurred in 1984 and began in a style typical of the volcano. At 10:55 p.m. on March 24, 1984, the rate of earthquakes under Mauna Loa started to rapidly pick up. While rates of earthquakes were already above normal, they quickly rose to two to three earthquakes per minute.
By 11:30 p.m., strong seismic tremor had begun, indicating that magma was moving underground and getting close to the surface. The eruption began at Mauna Loa’s summit at 1:30 a.m. on March 25.
The rapid onset of extreme unrest leading to eruption in 1984 is typical of the Mauna Loa eruptions that have been observed in the last two centuries. In addition to rapid onset, eruptions that migrate down either of Mauna Loa’s rift zones tend to be high volume and resulting lava flows can move quickly from their eruptive vents downslope toward the ocean. As described in a March 11, 2022 Volcano Watch article, lava flows moving down the steep slopes of South Kona can reach the ocean as soon as three to four hours after the start of a rift eruption. The combination of rapid onset, large lava volumes, and fast lava flows can make Mauna Loa eruptions particularly hazardous.
The technology we use to monitor volcanoes has changed a lot since 1984. Paper seismograms, hand-collected survey data, and visual observations have given way to digital broadband seismic data, continuous GPS measurements, and a network of webcams. This means we have a lot more detail about Mauna Loa’s current period of unrest than has ever been possible before. Nonetheless, it is still possible for the situation to change rapidly and it is difficult to forecast when that might happen.
Mauna Loa’s current episode of unrest began in late 2014 with an increase in the rates of inflationary deformation and seismicity. These rates waned in 2017-2018, but began increasing again in 2019 and have remained somewhat steady since then, with earthquake rates of about 20 per day. A noticeable seismic swarm occurred from late January through mid-April 2021 and was accompanied by changes by ground surface tilt recorded by a summit tiltmeter. This was an unprecedented observation that indicated magma had been getting closer to the surface. Another short swarm and tilt event was observed in early August 2022.
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| Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Mauna Loa monitoring data showing increased ground deformation rates (top) and earthquake rates (bottom) from August 8 through October 5, 2022. The distance (line length) between GPS stations MOKP and MLES (blue circles) lengthened by about 2 cm (less than 1 inch), indicating that Mauna Loa is expanding as more magma accumulates beneath the surface. MOKP is located just Northwest of Mokuʻāweoweo (Mauna Loa’s summit caldera) and MLES is located on Mauna Loa’s upper southeast flank. Tiltmeter measurements (green line) also show increased ground motions (the daily oscillations in tilt are due to local heating and cooling cycles). There were less than 20 earthquakes per day (blue bars) from early August through mid-September. The rate increased to about 40-50 earthquakes per day over the past two weeks, with peaks of over 100 earthquakes per day on September 23rd and 29th. USGS plots |
The current and ongoing swarm began on Sept. 22 and marked the start of a persistent increase in earthquake rate at Mauna Loa’s summit. It rose from about 20 per day to 40-50 per day, with two days getting as high as 100 per day. Shallow (less than about two miles or three kilometers depth) opening of magma pathways has also been detected as an inflationary tilt event. However, the bulk of Mauna Loa’s deformation is still due to deeper processes (greater than about 2 miles or 3 kilometers depth) that have been occurring since 2019.
Other signals, such as seismic tremor, that would indicate that an eruption is imminent, have not been
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| On June 1, 1950, a fissure erupted high on Mauna Loa's Southwest Rift Zone, and within 3 hours, ‘a‘ā lava flows had crossed the main highway on the west coast of the Island of Hawai‘i. The flows soon inundated the coastal village of Ho‘okena-mauka and reached the ocean, creating billowy clouds of steam that rose 10,000 feet into the into the air. All the villagers reached safety unharmed, but lava flows destroyed about two-dozen structures and cut the highway in three places before the eruption ended on June 23. Photo from USGS |
This uptick in activity is a good reminder to be prepared for a volcanic eruption, whether you live on the flanks of Mauna Loa or anywhere else on the Island of Hawaiʻi.
The steps to be prepared for a volcanic eruption are the same as for many other hazards and is part of All Hazards preparedness. It includes putting together a go bag with essentials in the case of quick evacuation, as well as a communication plan among your family members, and knowing how to get updated emergency information. More information is available in a March 11, 2021, Volcano Watch article
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| The 1984 Mauna Loa eruption as seen from Hilo. Photo from Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park |
that focused on lava flow hazards from Mauna Loa (https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/news/volcano-watch-failing-prepare-you-are-preparing-fail-benjamin-franklin). Additionally, Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense has resources on their website (https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/departments/civil-defense/emergency-preparedness) to help you create an All Hazards plan for your family.
Volcano Activity Updates: Kīlauea volcano is erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is at WATCH (https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/volcano-hazards/about-alert-levels). Kīlauea updates are issued daily.
Over the past week, lava has continued to erupt from the western vent within Halemaʻumaʻu crater in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Sulfur dioxide emission rates remain elevated and were last measured at approximately 1,800 tonnes per day (t/d) on Sept. 30. Seismicity is elevated but stable, with few earthquakes and ongoing volcanic tremor. Over the past week, summit tiltmeters recorded several minor deflation-inflation (DI) events. For more information on the current eruption of Kīlauea, see https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/recent-eruption.
Mauna Loa is not erupting and remains at Volcano Alert Level ADVISORY. This alert level does not mean that an eruption is imminent or that progression to an eruption from the current level of unrest is certain. Mauna Loa updates are issued daily. This past week, about 430 small-magnitude earthquakes were recorded below the summit and upper elevation flanks of Mauna Loa—the majority of these occurred at shallow depths less than 15 kilometers (9 miles) below sea level. Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements show continued ground deformation consistent with inflation of a magma chamber beneath the summit. Gas concentrations and fumarole temperatures at both the summit and at Sulphur Cone on the Southwest Rift Zone have remained stable over the past week.
Webcams show no changes to the landscape. For more information on current monitoring of Mauna Loa, see: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/monitoring.
One earthquake was reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M3.4 earthquake 10 km (6 mi) NE of Pāhala at 32 km (20 mi) depth on Oct. 4 at 10:38 p.m. HST.
HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea's ongoing eruption and Mauna Loa for any signs of increased activity.
Visit HVO’s website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake info, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.
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| A job greeting visitors as a Recreation Fee Clerk is available at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park at https://go.nps.gov/HAVOjobs |
A WORK POSITION AT HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK IS AVAILABLE as a Temporary Recreation Fee Clerk at the entrance station. A message from HVNP says, "Apply if you are passionate about helping visitors start their experience at the national park. Check out the listing under the Work With Us section of the website: https://go.nps.gov/HAVOjobs
Position closes this Monday, Oct. 10 and is not available through USAJOBS.
THE U.S AND HAWAI'I STATE FLAGS WILL BE FLOWN AT HALF-STAFF to honor fallen
firefighters at the direction of the President of the United States and Gov. David Ige this Sunday, Oct. 9, the day of the annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
"With every fire related disaster, our firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency medical first responders risk their lives to keep our communities safe. Let us all take the time to honor the selflessness and bravery of these individuals and reflect on the importance of practicing fire prevention and safety," said Hawai'i's governor.
Position closes this Monday, Oct. 10 and is not available through USAJOBS.
THE U.S AND HAWAI'I STATE FLAGS WILL BE FLOWN AT HALF-STAFF to honor fallen
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| Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, Md. |
"With every fire related disaster, our firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency medical first responders risk their lives to keep our communities safe. Let us all take the time to honor the selflessness and bravery of these individuals and reflect on the importance of practicing fire prevention and safety," said Hawai'i's governor.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.
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| In the mail, on stands and at www.kaucalendar.com |
