Recent Mauna Loa Status Reports, Updates, and Information Releases
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY CURRENT STATUS REPORT
Monday, July 27, 2009 11:13 AM HST (Monday, July 27, 2009 21:13 UTC)
MAUNA LOA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-02=) 19°28'30" N 155°36'29" W, Summit Elevation 13681 ft (4170 m) Current Aviation Color Code: YELLOW Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY
Mauna Loa is not erupting. Slow extension, as measured by GPS receivers on opposite sides of the volcano, continued. Line lengths have been increasing at a slightly faster rate since September, 2008, due mostly to slippage on faults beneath Mauna Loa's east flank and not to an increase in magma supply to the volcano.
Tiltmeters have recorded no significant changes other than abrupt offsets that are related to instrumental issues, severe weather, or significant earthquakes.
Sensors within a fissure in Moku`aweoweo crater floor continued to record background gas concentrations and fumarole temperatures.
Since the beginning of January, 2005, HVO analysts have rarely located more than 10 earthquakes per week beneath Mauna Loa summit and 1-5 earthquakes beneath the Kealakekua area of west Mauna Loa. The Kao`iki seismic zone between Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcano summits remained active with an average of about 10-40 earthquakes per week; these numbers may reflect increased seismic activity nearer Kilauea summit rather than increased Ka`oiki activity.
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai`i.
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY BIWEEKLY UPDATE
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 11:13 AM HST (Tuesday, July 14, 2009 21:13 UTC)
Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:
MAUNA LOA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-02=) 19°28'30" N 155°36'29" W, Summit Elevation 13681 ft (4170 m) Current Aviation Color Code: YELLOW Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY
Mauna Loa is not erupting. Slow extension, as measured by GPS receivers on opposite sides of the volcano, continued. Line lengths have been increasing at a slightly faster rate since September, 2008, due mostly to slippage on basalt faults beneath Mauna Loa's east flank and not to an increase in magma supply to the volcano.
Tiltmeters have recorded no significant changes other than abrupt offsets that are related to instrumental issues, severe weather, or significant earthquakes.
Sensors within a crack in Moku`aweoweo crater floor continued to record background gas concentrations and fumarole temperatures.
Since the beginning of January, 2005, HVO analysts have rarely located more than 10 earthquakes per week beneath Mauna Loa summit and 1-5 earthquakes beneath the Kealakekua area of west Mauna Loa. The Kao`iki seismic zone between Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcano summits remained active with an average of about 10-40 earthquakes per week; these numbers may reflect increased seismic activity nearer Kilauea summit rather than increased Ka`oiki activity.
A shallow magnitude-3.3 earthquake occurred at 4:12 pm on July 8 and was located just south of the summit at a depth of 2 km (1 mile). This is the third shallow magnitude-3-or-greater earthquake in this area in the past 18 months. Previous to this cluster, three shallow magnitude-3 earthquakes occurred beneath this same area in the first nine months of 1998 and were not associated with any other unusual activity.
Maps, photos, webcam views, and other information about Mauna Loa Volcano are available at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/maunaloastatus.php.
A map with details of earthquakes located within the past two weeks can be found at http://tux.wr.usgs.gov/
A definition of alert levels can be found at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/alertsystem/index.php
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai`i.
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY BIWEEKLY UPDATE
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 8:37 AM HST (Tuesday, June 16, 2009 18:37 UTC)
Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:
MAUNA LOA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-02=) 19°28'30" N 155°36'29" W, Summit Elevation 13681 ft (4170 m) Current Aviation Color Code: YELLOW Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY
Mauna Loa is not erupting. Slow extension, as measured by GPS receivers on opposite sides of the volcano, continued. Line lengths have been increasing at a slightly faster rate since September, 2008, due mostly to slippage on basalt faults beneath Mauna Loa's east flank and not to an increase in magma supply to the volcano. Recent instrumental problems with a summit GPS receiver have produced more-than-usual data scatter - this problem will be corrected when weather permits.
Tiltmeters have recorded no significant changes other than abrupt offsets that are related to instrumental issues or significant earthquakes. Diurnal tilt, or the tilting due to daily heating and cooling of the ground, was diminished by snowfall starting Christmas Eve, 2008.
Sensors within a crack in Moku`aweoweo crater floor continued to record background gas concentrations and fumarole temperatures.
Since the beginning of January, 2005, HVO analysts have rarely located more than 10 earthquakes per week beneath Mauna Loa summit. Each week, 1-5 earthquakes are also located beneath the Kealakekua area of west Mauna Loa. These levels are typical of the past several years. The Kao`iki seismic zone between Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcano summits remained active with an average of about 10-40 earthquakes per week; these numbers may reflect increased seismic activity nearer Kilauea summit rather than increased Ka`oiki activity.
Maps, photos, webcam views, and other information about Mauna Loa Volcano are available at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/maunaloastatus.php.
A map with details of earthquakes located within the past two weeks can be found at http://tux.wr.usgs.gov/
A definition of alert levels can be found at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/alertsystem/index.php
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai`i.
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY BIWEEKLY UPDATE
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 4:19 PM HST (Wednesday, May 27, 2009 02:19 UTC)
Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:
MAUNA LOA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-02=) 19°28'30" N 155°36'29" W, Summit Elevation 13681 ft (4170 m) Current Aviation Color Code: YELLOW Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY
Mauna Loa is not erupting. Slow extension, as measured by GPS receivers on opposite sides of the volcano, continued. Line lengths have been increasing at a slightly faster rate since September, 2008, due mostly to slippage on basalt faults beneath Mauna Loa's east flank and not to an increase in magma supply to the volcano. Recent instrumental problems with a summit GPS receiver have produced more-than-usual data scatter - this problem will be corrected when weather permits.
Tiltmeters have recorded no significant changes other than abrupt offsets that are related to instrumental issues or significant earthquakes. Diurnal tilt, or the tilting due to daily heating and cooling of the ground, was diminished by snowfall starting Christmas Eve, 2008.
Sensors within a crack in Moku`aweoweo crater floor continued to record background gas concentrations; fumarole temperatures have increased slightly.
Since the beginning of January, 2005, HVO analysts have rarely located more than 10 earthquakes per week beneath Mauna Loa summit. Each week, 1-5 earthquakes are also located beneath the Kealakekua area of west Mauna Loa. These levels are typical of the past several years. The Kao`iki seismic zone between Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcano summits remained active with an average of about 10-40 earthquakes per week; these numbers may reflect increased seismic activity nearer Kilauea summit rather than increased Ka`oiki activity.
Maps, photos, webcam views, and other information about Mauna Loa Volcano are available at http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/maunaloastatus.php.
A map with details of earthquakes located within the past two weeks can be found at http://tux.wr.usgs.gov/
A definition of alert levels can be found at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/alertsystem/index.php
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai`i.
