Mauna Loa—History, Hazards, and Risk of Living with the World's Largest Volcano
Over the past 3,000 years, Mauna Loa, the world's largest volcano, has erupted, on average, every six years. People residing on its flanks face many hazards, including lava flows, explosive eruptions, volcanic smog, and damaging earthquakes. The increasing development of Hawaiʻi Island means that risk from these hazards will continue to grow, so HVO closely monitors Mauna Loa to enable timely warnings of eruptive activity and help protect lives and property.
This informative Fact Sheet, written for the general public by HVO geologist Frank Trusdell, provides an overview of Mauna Loa's eruptive history, hazards from the massive shield volcano, risk to Hawaiʻi Island residents, and what they can do to prepare for the volcano's next eruption. It is currently available as an online document, but paper copies will be printed in the coming months.
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