Mauna Loa: The world’s largest active volcano erupts in Hawaii
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A stream of molten lava threatens the main road on Hawaii’s Big Island after the Mauna Loa volcano erupted for the first time in nearly four decades earlier this week.
As of Wednesday morning, lava spewing from the volcano was less than five miles from the highway known as Saddle Road that runs nearly the entire length of the island.
“He does not pose a threat to any community at this time,” the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency wrote on its website. “But parking is prohibited along the highway between mile markers 16 to 31, and any vehicle left there could be towed.”
While residents may not be at risk from the lava, the Hawaii Department of Health is warning the public about the risks of air quality hazards, including vog conditions, airborne ash and rising levels of sulfur dioxide.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the eruption on the state’s Big Island began at approximately 11:30 p.m. local time on Sunday at Mokuaweoweo, the volcano’s summit caldera.
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One month ago: Hawaii’s Big Island receives a warning when a large volcano rumbles
Authorities warned Hawaii residents to prepare a month ago…
Hawaii officials are warning residents of the Big Island that the world’s largest active volcano, Mauna Loa, is sending signals that it may erupt.
Although an eruption is not imminent, scientists are on high alert due to a recent uptick in earthquakes at the volcano’s summit. Experts say it would take a few hours for the lava to reach homes closest to the volcano, which last erupted in 1984.
Johanna Chisholm November 30, 2022 11:30 pm
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Where is Mauna Loa?
Mauna Loa is one of the five volcanoes that together form the Big Island of Hawaii, which is the southernmost island of the Hawaiian archipelago. It’s not the tallest (that title goes to Mauna Kea) but it’s the largest and makes up about half of the island’s land mass.
It is located immediately north of the Kilauea volcano, which is currently erupting from its summit crater. Kilauea is known for a 2018 eruption that destroyed 700 homes and sent rivers of lava spewing across farms and into the ocean.
Mauna Loa last erupted 38 years ago. In written history, which dates back to 1843, it has erupted 33 times.
The big island is mostly rural and home to ranches, coffee farms and beach resorts. It is about 200 miles (320 kilometers) south of Hawaii’s most populous island, Oahu, home to the state capital Honolulu and the Waikiki beach resort.
Johanna Chisholm November 30, 2022 10:30 p.m
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ICYMI: Residents shared concerns weeks before the eruption
Hawaii residents were worried about a possible eruption weeks before it happened.
“We are worried. We haven’t thought too much about the volcano, even in 2018 when one [Kīlauea] the eruption took place in the eastern part of the island. We knew it wasn’t going to touch our houses,” resident Laura Roberts told Newsweek last month.
“Here at Ocean View, [Mauna Loa’s] lava could reach the ocean in less than three hours and our homes faster than that. We are in the rift zone, so fissures could open. It’s a strange feeling to know that there is a possibility of losing your home. It also makes us feel like we shouldn’t be traveling because what happens if something happens and we can’t evacuate our important things and animals,” he added at the time.
Johanna Chisholm November 30, 2022 9:30 pm
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Watch: US Coast Guard flies over Mauna Loa
The US Coast Guard conducted a flyover of Mauna Loa using a C-130 Hercules for the mission.
Watch a clip of the image below.
Johanna Chisholm November 30, 2022 8:26 p.m
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CAMS predicts the path of the SO2 plume from Mauna Loa as the eruption continues
The Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service forecast, which was initialized from the first satellite observations of sulfur dioxide (SO2) after the Mauna Loa eruption on Sunday, shows the evolution of the plume which moves southeast over the Pacific Ocean and toward the North American continent, before dissipating. after 3-4 days.
“Our monitoring of SO2 after an eruption can be used to estimate the extent and transport of volcanic plumes and possible impacts on atmospheric composition. The impacts of SO2 released by Mauna Loa on climate and air quality “air at the surface are probably very small. Most of the SO2 emitted is higher in the atmosphere above the surface, especially as you move away from the source, and may be visible as a light haze in the sky.” , said Mark Parrington, CAMS senior scientist.
Johanna Chisholm November 30, 2022 7:30 pm
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Helicopter footage provides a unique view of the lava fountains erupting on Mauna Loa
A Hawaiian helicopter tour company operating on the Big Island, which still offers Mauna Loa eruption tours, shared stunning footage from a recent hike above the volcano on Tuesday, giving viewers a rare chance to see the lava fountains from unusual access. advantage point
“Update on Mauna Loa eruption 11/29 at 7:26am,” Paradise Helicopters tweeted Tuesday, sharing video clips showing molten lava spewing into the air.
Johanna Chisholm November 30, 2022 6:30 p.m
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Molten lava could invade Hawaii’s Big Island’s main highway within hours
A stream of molten lava threatens the main road on Hawaii’s Big Island after the Mauna Loa volcano erupted for the first time in nearly four decades earlier this week.
As of Wednesday morning, the lava flow emanating from the Mauna Loa eruption was less than five miles from the highway known as Saddle Road that runs nearly the entire length of the island.
“It does not pose a threat to any community at this time,” the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency wrote on its website Wednesday morning about the lava flow. “But parking is prohibited along the highway between mile markers 16 to 31, and any vehicle left there could be towed.”
Abe Asher has more here in this developing story.
Johanna Chisholm November 30, 2022 5:22 pm
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Mauna Loa remains at red warning level as northeast Rift Zone eruption continues
In its latest update shared late Tuesday evening local time, the USGS confirmed that there is currently no risk to property as the eruption in the Northeast Rift Zone continues.
There are currently several active fissures and lava flows, the longest and largest fountains coming from fissure three.
“This afternoon, Fissure 3 fountains were consistently 40-50 m (131-164 ft) high, and Fissure 4 fountains, which formed at approximately 19:30 HST on November 28, were 5-10 m (16-33 ft). ) tall,” the agency wrote in its update.
The USGS does not expect any eruptive activity outside of the Northeast Rift Zone.
On November 28, the USGA estimated the sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rate to be approximately 250,000 tons per day.
Johanna Chisholm November 30, 2022 5:15 pm
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Webcams provide new insight into Mauna Loa’s eruption
The US Geological Survey established several new webcam views of Mauna Loa’s Northeast Rift Zone.
On these webcams, viewers can see live images of lava flowing from Fissures Three and Four, as the viscous lava continues to flow downward.
Johanna Chisholm November 30, 2022 4:10 pm
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Mauna Loa: What you need to know
Mauna Loa is one of the five volcanoes that together form the Big Island of Hawaii, which is the southernmost island of the Hawaiian archipelago.
Mauna Loa, which rises 13,679 feet (4,169 meters) above sea level, is Kilauea’s much larger neighbor, which erupted in a residential neighborhood and destroyed 700 homes in 2018. Some of its slopes are much higher steeper than Kilauea’s, so the lava can flow a lot. faster when it explodes.
During a 1950 eruption, lava from the mountain traveled 15 miles (24 kilometers) to the ocean in less than three hours.
Johanna Chisholm November 30, 2022 3:48 p.m