Volcanic Unrest at Mauna Loa, Earth’s Largest Active Volcano

EOS ^ | 10/16/2017 | Albert Thelen, et al

[JimSEA]

Mauna Loa is showing persistent signs of volcanic unrest. Since 2014, increased seismicity and deformation indicate that Mauna Loa, the volcano that dominates more than half of the island of Hawaiʻi, may be building toward its first eruption since 1984.

Thousands of residents and key infrastructure are potentially at risk from lava flows, so a critical question is whether the volcano will follow patterns of previous eruptions or return to its now historically unprecedented 33-year slumber.

Mauna Loa has erupted 33 times since 1843, an average of one eruption every 5 years [Trusdell, 2012]. Typical of shield-building Hawaiian volcanoes, Mauna Loa hosts a summit caldera and two rift zones, the Northeast Rift Zone (NERZ) and the Southwest Rift Zone (SWRZ; Figure 1, inset).

Since the two most recent eruptions, in 1975 and 1984, monitoring by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has changed dramatically. Ground-based instruments continuously record signals from global navigation satellite systems (GNSS, of which GPS is one example), measuring the changing shape of the ground surface in near-real time, and interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) provides extensive spatial coverage of deformation. Seismic monitoring has also improved with the addition of more stations, increased data fidelity, and improved data analysis.

[JimSEA]

“At Yellowstone," he continued, "activity is clearly episodic. There was a very long period of volcanic activity between 170,000 years ago until about 70,000 years ago. Many tens of lava flows erupted during that time, though none were nearly as explosive as the supereruptions that are so oft-discussed in the press. Since 70,000 years ago, there have been no volcanic eruptions at Yellowstone. Nearly all geologists I know expect that Yellowstone will experience future volcanic eruptions, but we honestly cannot state when they will occur, nor do we know if there are any more supereruptions in Yellowstone's future.” Live Science.

[DuncanWaring]

East of the Mississippi ain’t gonna be that great either.

[SaveFerris]

[I’ve walked through the lava tubes. Too cool!]

Or Too hot!

At least at one time. Too cooling!

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Spouting Horn!

[SaveFerris]

Was it this one?

[hoosiermama]

Been there That day we were evacuated because of the tsunami from the Japanese earthquake (we took a really cool helicopter ride to view the vulcanoes and lava fields.) Finished the day with a fire in the kitchen where we were having dinner .... a wild 24 hours! Great pictures

[magna carta]

who says Hawaii is just “relaxing”?

[hoosiermama]

Best trip ever!

[publius911]

If that happens, kiss everything west of the Mississippi River goodbye.

Why?
Aren't both the jetstream and the prevailing "weather" from the west (flowing easterly?)

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

For those who want more, all the volcanos that are erupting, see:

https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/erupting_volcanoes.html

For anyone wants to put on their pants, turn off the computer, and go out side into the sunlight, they even sponsor trips to see the volcanos!

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

video cams of this volcano;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YIsrjk0SjY

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vqx4aP4kuQ

This is sort of about the volcano, but has Indonesian music and a rooster crowing in the back ground!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV3f7Jt3YTI

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

video cams of this volcano;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YIsrjk0SjY

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vqx4aP4kuQ

This is sort of about the volcano, but has Indonesian music and a rooster crowing in the back ground!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV3f7Jt3YTI

[cherry]

if Yellowstone blows, it depends on the prevailing winds as to who gets hurt the most....I’m thinking east of Yellowstone if at all...

[Pontiac]

Aren't both the jetstream and the prevailing "weather" from the west (flowing easterly?)

Exactly.

Everything East of Yellowstone will be buried under feet of ash as far West as Chicago and it will taper off going further East.

And of course, we can expect the Sulfuric Acid in the upper atmosphere to trigger a new ice age or at least very extended winters for several years causing repeated crop failures. Millions will die of starvation.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks JimSEA. I remember reading about the 1984 eruption, it was starting or at least going on when I visited LA, early April that year. Marvin Gaye also got capped by his own father at that time, if memory serves. Ordinarily I just look down my long aristocratic nose (figure of speech) at volcanic eruptions, but this one is usually pretty. :^)

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[SunkenCiv]

(vid) Fantastically Beautiful Eruption of the Mauna Loa Volcano, Hawaii. 1940 – 1984

[gleeaikin]

Everything west of the Mississippi up to Yellowstone, Wyoming and somewhat beyond. Below is link to images of YS ashfalls from the 3 major eruptions starting around 2 million years ago. My father wrote an unpublished novel about a major YS eruption in current times. In it he had over 6 ft. falling in Denver. Probably 3 ft. at MS.

https://www.google.com/search?q=yellowstone+volcano+major+ash+cloud+map&num=50&newwindow=1&safe=off&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiU56Hd1ojXAhXh5IMKHWcbB9cQsAQIJw&biw=1600&bih=794

[T-Bone Texan]

Where did you enter lava tubes?

I went to Lava Beds National Monument, now NP several times, and it was very awesome and intense.

I took my now-wife there. We snuck into the caves at night when no one was around. She freaked out.

I think it was the crawling and squeezing through all the tight spots that induces claustrophobia.

After a while, the brain just screams for egress and release.