• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Weatherboy

Weatherboy Weather News, Maps, RADAR, Satellite, and Forecasts.

  • Local
  • Earth Science News
  • RADAR
  • Current Warnings
  • Satellite
  • Current Maps
  • Forecast Maps
  • Video

Unrest from World’s Largest Volcano Prompts Alert from Local Authorities

by Weatherboy Team Meteorologist - April 28, 2021

The summit of the Mauna Loa volcano is dusted by a recent snowstorm in Hawaii. Image: Weatherboy
The summit of the Mauna Loa volcano is dusted by a recent snowstorm in Hawaii. Image: Weatherboy



While it isn’t erupting right now, ongoing unrest at the world’s largest volcano has prompted local authorities to remind residents and visitors to prepare for the eventual eruption. In an April 27  posting made by the Civil Defense Agency for Hawaii County, also known as “The Big Island”, authorities are suggesting now is a good time for those in the hazard zones that surround Mauna Loa volcano to prepare for the inevitable. According to Hawaii County Civil Defense, Mauna Loa has seen an uptick in activity, including 175 small-magnitude earthquakes below Mauna Loa in the last week alone.

Hawaii County Civil Defense shared this risk map in yesterday's Mauna Loa posting update. Image: HCCD
Hawaii County Civil Defense shared this risk map in yesterday’s Mauna Loa posting update. Image: HCCD

The comments from Civil Defense come just weeks after scientists with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) at USGS cautioned, “While an eruption of Mauna Loa is not imminent, now is the time to revisit personal eruption plans. Similar to preparing for hurricane season, having an eruption plan in advance helps during an emergency.”

The role of the Civil Defense Agency is to direct and coordinate the development and administration of the County’s total emergency preparedness and response program to ensure prompt and effective action when natural or man-caused disaster threatens or occurs anywhere in the County of Hawaii.

Mauna Loa is considered the largest active volcano on Earth, rising to 13,681 feet above sea level. Mauna Loa rises up from the ocean floor of the Central Pacific at a depth of about 3 miles. Because of the volcano’s significant mass, the ocean floor directly beneath Mauna Loa is depressed by another 5 miles. According to USGS, this places Mauna Loa’s summit about 56,000 feet above its base; the enormous volcano covers half of the island of Hawaii, also known simply as the “Big Island of Hawaii.”

Mauna Loa eruptions tend to produce voluminous, fast-moving lava flows that can impact communities on the east and west sides of the Big Island from Kona to Hilo.  Since the 1850s, Hilo in eastern Hawaii has been threatened by 7 Mauna Loa lava flows. On the south and west sides of the island, Mauna Loa lava flows have reached the coast there 8 times: in 1859, 1868, 1887, 1926, 1919, and three times in 1950.



Large areas of Hawaii's largest island could be threatened by lava flows in future eruptions. Image: HCCD
Large areas of Hawaii’s largest island could be threatened by lava flows in future eruptions. Image: HCCD

According to USGS, while Mauna Loa is not erupting right now , rates of deformation and seismicity remain elevated above long-term background levels.  GPS measurements continue to show slow, long-term summit inflation consistent with magma supply to the volcano’s shallow storage system. A slight increase in the rate of inflation that began in January continues.

With another eruption on Mauna Loa inevitable, although the timing is not yet defined, the USGS is urging people on Hawaii to have a personal response plan, prepare a “go bag”, and determine what one would do in the event of an eruption at different times of the day or week.



USGS suggests that people in Hawaii have a "go bag" prepared with essential items now ahead of Mauna Loa's next eruption. Image: HIEMA
USGS suggests that people in Hawaii have a “go bag” prepared with essential items now ahead of Mauna Loa’s next eruption. Image: HIEMA

“The most important thing you can do is to have a personal response plan,” says the USGS. Document what you’d do when a volcano erupts and make sure your family and friends are aware of what that plan is.

USGS suggests getting a “go bag” in order. “Nowadays, people pack “go” bags containing essential items in case you have to leave your house under an evacuation order. You may want to include important documents, like your birth certificate, deeds, legal papers, and medications.”

USGS says people in Hawaii should develop plans that factor in different types of days and time of day: if family members are at work or school at specific times, the plan should address what people should do and how they should communicate if an eruption occurs when people aren’t home. USGS says, “It is useful to also have a communication plan, so you can be in touch with those you care about.”

Location of volcanoes on Hawaii's Big Island. Image: USGS
Location of volcanoes on Hawaii’s Big Island. Image: USGS

Mauna Loa is one of 5 volcanoes that make up Hawaii’s Big Island. The oldest volcano on Hawaii Island is Kohala, which is more than one million years old. Kilauea is the youngest, at an estimated 300,000-600,000 years old. Mauna Loa is the second youngest volcano on the island, estimated to be about  700,000 years old.

 

Primary Sidebar

Sponsored Ad

Search

Latest News

  • Deadline for SBA Aid for Kauai Drought Coming Soon
  • Another Atmospheric River Event Slams into West Coast; More Epic Rain, Snow Expected
  • Anniversary of 1964 Great Alaskan “Good Friday” Earthquake and Tsunami
  • Tornado Watches, Warnings Issued as Severe Weather Impacts Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, & Gerogia
  • After Violent Night, Storms Shift to Ohio and Pennsylvania
  • Preliminary NTSB Report Shows Something other than Turbulence Killed Passenger on New England Flight
  • SEVERE Geomagnetic Storm Alert Issued; Massive Aurora On Display in North America
  • World’s Largest Volcano Quakes; No Tsunami Threat Around Hawaii
About | Careers | Contact | Contests
Terms | Privacy | Ad Choices
Weatherboy is a (R) Registered Trademark of isarithm LLC, All Rights Reserved.
All content herein is Copyright by Isarithm LLC 1997-2022