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Hawaii Volcanoes | National Geographic


it is the largest volcano on earth and

it is the largest volcano on earth and appears relatively quiet today however

appears relatively quiet today however

appears relatively quiet today however looks can be deceiving it is actually

looks can be deceiving it is actually

looks can be deceiving it is actually one of Earth’s most active volcanoes and

one of Earth’s most active volcanoes and

one of Earth’s most active volcanoes and scientists now feel that the sleeping

scientists now feel that the sleeping

scientists now feel that the sleeping giant is on its way to reawakening in

giant is on its way to reawakening in

giant is on its way to reawakening in spring of 2002 the volcano began to

spring of 2002 the volcano began to

spring of 2002 the volcano began to inflate began very slightly in 2004 we

inflate began very slightly in 2004 we

inflate began very slightly in 2004 we began seeing deep earthquakes about 40

began seeing deep earthquakes about 40

began seeing deep earthquakes about 40 kilometers deep so these two signals

kilometers deep so these two signals

kilometers deep so these two signals very subtle we think may be the

very subtle we think may be the

very subtle we think may be the beginning of magma moving into the very

beginning of magma moving into the very

beginning of magma moving into the very deep part of the volcano we’re not

deep part of the volcano we’re not

deep part of the volcano we’re not certain and so we have to wait for

certain and so we have to wait for

certain and so we have to wait for additional science to develop scientists

additional science to develop scientists

additional science to develop scientists continue to observe Mon Aloha

continue to observe Mon Aloha

continue to observe Mon Aloha closely and since its last eruption in

closely and since its last eruption in

closely and since its last eruption in 1984 that work has gotten easier we have

1984 that work has gotten easier we have

1984 that work has gotten easier we have very new tools for measuring deformation

very new tools for measuring deformation

very new tools for measuring deformation especially we used to use surveying

especially we used to use surveying

especially we used to use surveying techniques about getting people out on

techniques about getting people out on

techniques about getting people out on the ground shooting distances but with

the ground shooting distances but with

the ground shooting distances but with lasers or using leveling rods now we use

lasers or using leveling rods now we use

lasers or using leveling rods now we use continuous GPS sensors we’re using

continuous GPS sensors we’re using

continuous GPS sensors we’re using satellite signals beam down to a sensor

satellite signals beam down to a sensor

satellite signals beam down to a sensor you can very precisely measure the

you can very precisely measure the

you can very precisely measure the change in position of a particular point

change in position of a particular point

change in position of a particular point to know what the volcano is doing you

to know what the volcano is doing you

to know what the volcano is doing you have to have a network of several of

have to have a network of several of

have to have a network of several of them there are 50 GPS stations on Mauna

them there are 50 GPS stations on Mauna

them there are 50 GPS stations on Mauna Loa and Kilauea Kilauea is the more

Loa and Kilauea Kilauea is the more

Loa and Kilauea Kilauea is the more active volcano

active volcano

active volcano that’s nestled up against Amon Aloha the

that’s nestled up against Amon Aloha the

that’s nestled up against Amon Aloha the movement of these instruments help

movement of these instruments help

movement of these instruments help scientists detect changes on the

scientists detect changes on the

scientists detect changes on the volcano’s surface as the magma reservoir

volcano’s surface as the magma reservoir

volcano’s surface as the magma reservoir expands the volcano is part of Hawaii

expands the volcano is part of Hawaii

expands the volcano is part of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and rises to

Volcanoes National Park and rises to

Volcanoes National Park and rises to over 13 and a half thousand feet above

over 13 and a half thousand feet above

over 13 and a half thousand feet above sea level

sea level

sea level maaan Aloha which means long mountain is

maaan Aloha which means long mountain is

maaan Aloha which means long mountain is so massive that it amounts to half the

so massive that it amounts to half the

so massive that it amounts to half the Island of Hawaii it is flanked by

Island of Hawaii it is flanked by

Island of Hawaii it is flanked by Kilauea which has erupted continuously

Kilauea which has erupted continuously

Kilauea which has erupted continuously since 1983 since records began in 1843

since 1983 since records began in 1843

since 1983 since records began in 1843 maaan Aloha has erupted 33 times the

maaan Aloha has erupted 33 times the

maaan Aloha has erupted 33 times the 1984 eruption lasted three weeks it

1984 eruption lasted three weeks it

1984 eruption lasted three weeks it started with a fissure that split across

started with a fissure that split across

started with a fissure that split across Mauna LOA’s caldera

Mauna LOA’s caldera

Mauna LOA’s caldera it’s crater then streamed fountains of

it’s crater then streamed fountains of

it’s crater then streamed fountains of lava that

lava that

lava that seated 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit fissures

seated 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit fissures

seated 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit fissures broke at lower elevations and lava

broke at lower elevations and lava

broke at lower elevations and lava flowed down the slopes from these vents

flowed down the slopes from these vents

flowed down the slopes from these vents for days coming within four miles of the

for days coming within four miles of the

for days coming within four miles of the outskirts of the island’s main city Hilo

outskirts of the island’s main city Hilo

outskirts of the island’s main city Hilo Mauna LOA’s eruptions viewed 220 million

Mauna LOA’s eruptions viewed 220 million

Mauna LOA’s eruptions viewed 220 million cubic meters of lava that covered more

cubic meters of lava that covered more

cubic meters of lava that covered more than 18 square miles Mauna Loa is a

than 18 square miles Mauna Loa is a

than 18 square miles Mauna Loa is a shield volcano made up and almost

shield volcano made up and almost

shield volcano made up and almost entirely of a single lava type of basalt

entirely of a single lava type of basalt

entirely of a single lava type of basalt it erupts time after time and gradually

it erupts time after time and gradually

it erupts time after time and gradually builds up this huge shape because it’s

builds up this huge shape because it’s

builds up this huge shape because it’s an island volcano it also has these two

an island volcano it also has these two

an island volcano it also has these two rift zones that cut through the flanks

rift zones that cut through the flanks

rift zones that cut through the flanks of the volcano like tabular bodies magma

of the volcano like tabular bodies magma

of the volcano like tabular bodies magma can either come up through the summit or

can either come up through the summit or

can either come up through the summit or come out along these rifts in the 20

come out along these rifts in the 20

come out along these rifts in the 20 years since its last eruption the

years since its last eruption the

years since its last eruption the hazards have increased the usgs

hazards have increased the usgs

hazards have increased the usgs estimates that 2.3 billion dollars has

estimates that 2.3 billion dollars has

estimates that 2.3 billion dollars has been spent on new construction on Mauna

been spent on new construction on Mauna

been spent on new construction on Mauna LOA’s slopes the main hazard at Mauna

LOA’s slopes the main hazard at Mauna

LOA’s slopes the main hazard at Mauna LOA’s

LOA’s

LOA’s is lava inundation there are some

is lava inundation there are some

is lava inundation there are some communities living very close to

communities living very close to

communities living very close to potential vent areas without a lot of

potential vent areas without a lot of

potential vent areas without a lot of time to move away we’re working with the

time to move away we’re working with the

time to move away we’re working with the county and state civil defense which are

county and state civil defense which are

county and state civil defense which are the primary agencies responsible for

the primary agencies responsible for

the primary agencies responsible for preparing communities and ensuring their

preparing communities and ensuring their

preparing communities and ensuring their safety we provide some very regular

safety we provide some very regular

safety we provide some very regular updates about the status of the volcano

updates about the status of the volcano

updates about the status of the volcano and we also are working to provide them

and we also are working to provide them

and we also are working to provide them probabilistic estimates of where the law

probabilistic estimates of where the law

probabilistic estimates of where the law is going to flow once the vent area is

is going to flow once the vent area is

is going to flow once the vent area is known as for now scientists can’t be

known as for now scientists can’t be

known as for now scientists can’t be sure when the volcano will erupt mana

sure when the volcano will erupt mana

sure when the volcano will erupt mana lower averages in eruption every 4 and

lower averages in eruption every 4 and

lower averages in eruption every 4 and 1/2 years so another one would seem to

1/2 years so another one would seem to

1/2 years so another one would seem to be imminent phorid erupts we’re likely

be imminent phorid erupts we’re likely

be imminent phorid erupts we’re likely to see new signals a large earthquake in

to see new signals a large earthquake in

to see new signals a large earthquake in 1975 and 1980 for the past two eruptions

1975 and 1980 for the past two eruptions

1975 and 1980 for the past two eruptions were preceded by a magnitude 6

were preceded by a magnitude 6

were preceded by a magnitude 6 earthquake we haven’t seen that yet and

earthquake we haven’t seen that yet and

earthquake we haven’t seen that yet and also seismicity where which is now at

also seismicity where which is now at

also seismicity where which is now at depths of greater than 40 kilometers

depths of greater than 40 kilometers

depths of greater than 40 kilometers will migrate to shallower depths up

will migrate to shallower depths up

will migrate to shallower depths up higher in the edifice with in the upper

higher in the edifice with in the upper

higher in the edifice with in the upper 5 kilometers of the surface and then

5 kilometers of the surface and then

5 kilometers of the surface and then will start becoming more aware that an

will start becoming more aware that an

will start becoming more aware that an eruption may be coming

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