Whether you live on the island of Mauna Loa or you just want to learn about it’s history, you can find some information on the Mauna Loa Volcano below. Here you will find the latest news on eruptions, what the mountain is currently doing underground, and how it will affect the town of Hilo, HI.

Recent eruptions

Several earthquakes and recent eruptions at Mauna Loa volcano indicate that the Hawaiian volcano is in unrest. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is tracking the eruption and has increased its alert level from yellow to red. The volcano is located about 21 miles west of Kilauea. The observatory said it has received reports of lava overflowing.

Mauna Loa’s eruptions tend to be very powerful. In some cases, lava can reach the sea within hours. In other cases, the lava may travel for weeks. However, authorities have not ordered evacuations, and lava from the volcano is currently not threatening any downslope communities.

Mauna Loa’s latest eruption began late Sunday night and lasted into Monday morning. Its eruption has already triggered dozens of earthquakes with a magnitude of at least 2.5. It has also produced fine ash, which can drift downwind.

According to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, lava has exited the Maunaloa summit, and has travelled along a northeast rift zone. The rift zone is a weak rock that makes it easier for magma to emerge. However, the rift zone is not populated and does not pose a threat to any communities.

Mauna Loa’s last eruption was in 1984, and it lasted three weeks. It slowed the lava flow, which had been moving rapidly. In addition, the eruption produced a viscous flow that took much longer to reach the ocean.

Mauna Loa is the world’s largest active volcano. It stands at more than 13,600 feet above sea level. It has erupted 33 times since 1843. However, it has never erupted from two rift zones at the same time.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory issued an update on Mauna Loa at 7:20 a.m. that said it is still “under control” and that it appears the eruption is contained. It is still possible for Mauna Loa to erupt from its southwest flank. However, this area is not populated, and has a lower risk of fast flows.

Mauna Loa’s northeast rift zone is not threatening any downslope communities, but vents on the southwest flank could cause problems for residential communities and coffee farms. They can carry volcanic gas downwind, and can affect air quality.

Shape of the mountain indicates what is happening underground

Located in the island of Hawaii, Mauna Loa is the world’s largest active volcano. It has erupted 33 times since 1843. In fact, its lava flows date back 600,000 to million years.

Mauna Loa has two main parts. One part is subaerial, and extends about 75 miles across the island. The other part is above sea level, and covers just over half the island.

Mauna Loa is a shield volcano, which means that it is built of fluid lava. Its sides are gently sloping. However, the volcano can be particularly dangerous when lava descends steep slopes. The volcano can also erupt very quickly. The last Mauna Loa eruption lasted three weeks. The eruption began when a fissure opened in the summit caldera. This paved the way for the eruption to move into the upper Northeast Rift Zone.

The volcano’s lava flows have advanced north-northwest, advancing to the ocean at PUAKU on the north Kona coast. The flows have also reached the ocean near Kiholo, in the northwestern part of the island.

Mauna Loa erupted in March 1984. During the eruption, the lava flow advanced within five miles of Hilo. The eruption is known to have caused landslides and a tsunami. It was considered one of the deadliest natural disasters in Hawaiian history. During nine years of eruption activity, 260 km2 of land was destroyed and 77 people were killed in landslides. The eruption also flattened trees and covered 600 km2 of forest.

Mauna Loa is one of the 15 volcanoes found on eight major Hawaiian islands. The Hawaiian Islands are part of a long volcanic chain that extends from the northwest Pacific Ocean to the Emperor Seamounts. The Hawaiian Islands are one of the most active ends of the chain.

Mauna Loa has a large number of seismic and GPS stations, as well as tilt stations, that are used to monitor the volcano. The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory uses a variety of monitoring tools to detect early signs of unrest. It also issues public notices through the HVO website.

Mauna Loa is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. It has erupted voluminous lava flows, which are fast-moving.

Landslides from the mountain’s western and southern flanks caused a landslide that blocked a lava flow from the northeast rift zone.

During the last 4,000 years, hundreds of lava flows have erupted from Mauna Loa. However, most of the volcano’s surface has been covered with lava flows only within the last few thousand years. The volcano’s earliest lava flows erupted between 0.6 and 1 million years ago.

In addition to the volcanic activity, the mountain is also host to massive landslide deposits that cover much of the subsurface. Landslides are mostly located along weakly cemented rock and colluvial sand. They can have speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour and can mix with the ice and water in the surrounding rivers.

Coseismic landslides, or landslides that occurred due to an earthquake, have been known to occur in the past. These landslides were typically located on the upside hillslopes of previous rainfall-induced landslide scars. They were deeper than rainfall-induced landslides and had volumes of 9.1-3994.6 m3.

In addition to coseismic landslides, a massive landslide that occurred during the eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington State was the largest landslide in the United States. It surged over a 400-meter-high ridge and covered 36 km of land.

Despite the fact that there are currently no threats to human health, the eruption of Mauna Loa is expected to be long and unpredictable. It could also lead to vog conditions, where sulfur dioxide levels fluctuate and the air becomes ashy. Hawaii National Guard is on standby and officials are monitoring the volcano daily.

The eruption also may produce ash in the air, which could affect air quality across the state. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency has activated an emergency operations center. The National Guard is on standby and Hawaii County officials have advised against mandatory evacuations.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is in charge of monitoring the eruption. Hawaii County Civil Defense has opened two shelters in Kailua-Kona and Pahala. They have not issued any mandatory evacuations and have advised families to check with the local schools before making any decisions.

According to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, the Mauna Loa eruption could produce lava flows that spread alternately from the summit area. Geologists have identified 33 radial vents on the volcano’s northern and western flanks that indicate lava eruptions. They are also investigating whether the eruption will include a rift zone.

Impact on Hilo

Several communities on the Big Island of Hawaii are under an ashfall advisory for Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano. Lava from Mauna Loa’s southwest flank is threatening to move toward Hilo in the near future.

Mauna Loa has not erupted for 38 years, but it is still at an elevated alert level. Lava is shooting out of fissures in the summit of the volcano, according to Hawaii County. Several subdivisions are located south of Mauna Loa. It is estimated that fissures are one to two miles long.

Lava is also shooting out of three separate fissures on the south side of the volcano. The lava flows are shooting up into the air, about 100 to 200 feet (30 to 60 meters) high.

Hilo is the largest city on the Big Island of Hawaii. It is located in the northeast part of the island. The city has been threatened by Mauna Loa’s lava flows in the past. During Mauna Loa’s last eruption, lava flows covered a large portion of land that is now within Hilo’s city limits.

Mauna Loa’s last eruption in 1984 slowed the lava flow, but a major eruption could occur in a few weeks. In the event of a major eruption, the air quality could worsen for days or weeks. If the eruption does occur, the Hawaiian Tourism Authority urges visitors to the island to prepare for an emergency.

The Hawaiian Tourism Authority says visitors should contact their host or hotel to find out if they should stay indoors during the eruption. A small amount of ash may be present in the air, but most people will be able to breathe normally. If you do experience breathing problems, stay indoors.

Air quality is currently good on the Big Island. However, scientists expect it to worsen for a few weeks. If you are traveling to Hawaii, check with your airline about any flight disruptions. They may cancel your flight or reroute your flight due to the volcanic ash.

Southwest Airlines has canceled all flights into and out of Hilo International Airport for Monday, November 28. It expects to resume normal operations on Tuesday. If you are scheduled to travel with Southwest, you can rebook your flight without any additional fees.