Mauna Loa, Hawaii, unrest - Mag 5.0

  • Thread starter Astronuc
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In summary, Mauna Loa has been in a state of heightened unrest since the middle of last month and has produced four earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 or greater. The USGS has warned the public to be prepared for the possibility of an eruption.
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5.0 earthquake hits during Hawaii’s Mauna Loa volcano unrest
https://apnews.com/article/science-...-environment-3ff2b8d0cc7f8e0a17c9a5a3c1a32fe3
HONOLULU (AP) — A magnitude 5.0 earthquake was the strongest of a series of temblors that struck Friday on Hawaii’s Mauna Loa, the largest active volcano on the planet that scientists say is in a “state of heightened unrest.”

Smaller aftershocks followed, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The series started with a 4.6 magnitude quake seconds before the larger one, which the USGS previously reported as having magnitude of 5.1.

The first one was slightly offshore and south of the town of Pahala, followed by the larger quake just south of Pahala beneath a highway, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said in a statement.

M 3.9 - 6 km S of Pāhala, Hawaii​

https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/hv73178907/executive
  • 2022-10-14 20:12:56 (UTC)
  • 19.146°N 155.486°W
  • 10.6 km depth

M 4.0 - 9 km SSW of Pāhala, Hawaii​

https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/hv73178797/executive
  • 2022-10-14 19:16:44 (UTC)
  • 19.123°N 155.504°W
  • 11.2 km depth

M 5.0 - 7 km SSW of Pāhala, Hawaii​

https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/hv72000488/executive
  • 2022-10-14 19:07:29 (UTC)
  • 19.140°N 155.494°W
  • 9.0 km depth

M 4.6 - 8 km S of Pāhala, Hawaii​

https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/hv73178772/executive
  • 2022-10-14 19:07:05 (UTC)
  • 19.129°N 155.483°W
  • 11.4 km depth
The above four earthquakes are punctuated by 12 more earthquakes of Mag 2-3.
MaunaLoa_2022-10-15 Earthquakes.png
 

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KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (AP) — Waves of orange, glowing lava and smoky ash belched and sputtered Monday from the world’s largest active volcano in its first eruption in 38 years, and officials told people living on Hawaii’s Big Island to be ready in the event of a worst-case scenario.

The eruption of Mauna Loa wasn’t immediately endangering towns, but the U.S. Geological Survey warned the roughly 200,000 people on the Big Island that an eruption “can be very dynamic, and the location and advance of lava flows can change rapidly.”
https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-v...live-updates-7cbdb4d597468702210bc31ef8e0a58c

Officials urged the public to stay away from them, given the dangers posed by lava, which is shooting 100 to 200 feet (30 to 60 meters) into the air out of three separate fissures roughly estimated to be 1 to 2 miles (1.6 to 3.2 kilometers) long.

Volcanic gases wafting out of the vents, primarily sulfur dioxide, are also harmful.
 
  • #5
https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa

Its long submarine flanks descend to the seafloor an additional 5 km (16,400 ft), and the seafloor in turn is depressed by Mauna Loa's great mass another 8 km (26,200 ft). This makes the volcano's summit about 17 km (55,700 ft) above its base! The enormous volcano covers half of the Island of Hawai‘i and by itself amounts to about 85 percent of the area of all the other Hawaiian Islands combined.

The Hawaiian name "Mauna Loa" means "Long Mountain." This name is apt, for the subaerial part of Mauna Loa extends for about 120 km (74 mi) from the southern tip of the island to the summit caldera and then east-northeast to the coastline near Hilo.

Mauna Loa is among Earth's most active volcanoes, having erupted 33 times since its first well-documented historical eruption in 1843. It has produced large, voluminous flows of basalt that have reached the ocean eight times since 1868. It last erupted in 1984, when a lava flow came within 7.2 km (4.5 mi) of Hilo, the largest population center on the island. Mauna Loa is certain to erupt again, and with such a propensity to produce large flows, we carefully monitor the volcano for signs of unrest.
 

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1. What is Mauna Loa, Hawaii?

Mauna Loa is a large, active volcano located on the island of Hawaii. It is one of the five volcanoes that make up the island and is considered the largest subaerial volcano in the world.

2. What is the current unrest at Mauna Loa?

The current unrest at Mauna Loa refers to increased seismic activity and inflation of the volcano, indicating that it may be preparing to erupt in the near future.

3. What does "Mag 5.0" mean in relation to Mauna Loa?

"Mag 5.0" refers to a magnitude 5.0 earthquake that occurred near Mauna Loa. This earthquake may be related to the volcanic unrest at the volcano, but further analysis is needed to determine the exact cause.

4. Is there a risk of eruption at Mauna Loa?

At this time, there is no immediate risk of eruption at Mauna Loa. However, the increased seismic activity and inflation of the volcano are being closely monitored by scientists to better understand the potential for future eruptions.

5. How do scientists predict volcanic eruptions at Mauna Loa?

Scientists use a variety of tools and techniques to monitor Mauna Loa and predict potential eruptions. These include measuring seismic activity, tracking changes in gas emissions, and monitoring ground deformation. By analyzing these data, scientists can make informed predictions about when and how Mauna Loa may erupt.

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