Recent Mauna Loa Status Reports, Updates, and Information Releases
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY MONTHLY UPDATE
Monday, February 4, 2013 12:46 PM HST (Monday, February 4, 2013 22:46 UTC)
HALEAKALA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-06-) 20°42'29" N 156°15' W, Summit Elevation 10023 ft (3055 m) Current Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL Current Aviation Color Code: GREEN
There were no detected earthquakes and no other significant changes.
Background: The most recent eruption on Haleakala was probably between A.D. 1480 and 1600. Haleakala Volcano is monitored by a continuous GPS instrument and a seismometer located near the southwest edge of the crater. Key sites on Haleakala are resurveyed using GPS receivers every few years to detect any changes in the volcano's shape.
HUALALAI VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-04-) 19°41'31" N 155°52'12" W, Summit Elevation 8278 ft (2523 m) Current Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL Current Aviation Color Code: GREEN
No unusual seismicity or deformation was detected.
Background: Hualalai is the third most active volcano on Hawai`i Island and typically erupts 2 to 3 times per 1,000 years. Hualalai last erupted in 1801 and, more recently, had a damaging seismic swarm in 1929 that probably was the result of a shallow intrusion of magma. Hualalai Volcano is monitored by a single continuous GPS instrument and a single seismometer located southwest of the summit as well as several instruments on nearby flanks of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. Key sites on Hualalai and West Mauna Loa are resurveyed every other year to detect any changes in the volcano's shape. In addition, Hualalai deformation is assessed several times per year using satellite radar interferometry.
LO`IHI VOLCANO 18°55'12" N 155°16'12" W, Summit Elevation -3199 ft (-975 m) Current Volcano Alert Level: UNASSIGNED Current Aviation Color Code: UNASSIGNED
No unusual seismicity was detected. Two earthquakes (>13 km deep) were detected in the area.
Background: Lo`ihi was last active in 1952, when activity probably generated a small local tsunami, and 1996. There are no working instruments on Lo`ihi Volcano whose peak is about 1,000 m below sea level. All current information about the volcano is derived from land-based seismometers on Hawai`i Island.
MAUNA KEA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-03-) 19°49'12" N 155°28'12" W, Summit Elevation 13796 ft (4205 m) Current Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL Current Aviation Color Code: GREEN
No unusual deformation or seismicity was detected.
Five earthquakes were located beneath Mauna Kea at depths greater than 13 km (8 mi), one event were located at shallower depths.
Background: Mauna Kea was last active about 4,600 years ago. Monitoring is conducted using three seismometers and one GPS receiver on the volcano plus instruments on adjacent Kohala volcano and denser seismic and geodetic networks on the north flank of Mauna Loa to the south. In addition, satellite radar interferometry data are available a few times per month with which possible deformation can also be evaluated.
MAUNA LOA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-02=) 19°28'30" N 155°36'29" W, Summit Elevation 13681 ft (4170 m) Current Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL Current Aviation Color Code: GREEN
Mauna Loa was not inflating. Seismicity rates were low.
Deformation: is occurring at slow rates, dominated by southeasterly motion of the southeast flank. No significant uplift has been measured during the past month. Upgrades of many Mauna Loa sites in late 2011 produced some apparent data offsets that will be corrected once a longer post-upgrade time series is available for analysis.
Seismicity: There was no unusual seismicity. HVO seismic networks detected no shallow events below summit area, 1 shallow event to the north and west of the summit, no shallow events on upper southwest rift, 1 event on the lower southwest rift, and no shallow events on the NW rift
Gas: No significant changes in SO2, CO2 were recorded by the Mokuaweoweo gas and temperature monitors during November. Fumarole temperature varied during the month from about 70 to 73 degrees C.
Background: Re-inflation of Mauna Loa's shallow magma storage reservoirs started immediately following the most recent eruption in 1984, then turned to deflation for almost a decade. In mid-2002, inflation started again, just after a brief swarm of deep long-period (LP) earthquakes. A more intense swarm of several thousand deep Long Period (LP) earthquakes occurred in late 2004, immediately preceding a dramatic increase in inflation rate. Inflation slowed again in 2006, ceased altogether in late 2009, and resumed slowly in late 2010.
Rising gradually to more than 4 km above sea level, Mauna Loa is the largest volcano on our planet. Its long submarine flanks descend to the sea floor an additional 5 km, and the sea floor in turn is depressed by Mauna Loa's great mass another 8 km. This makes the volcano's summit about 17 km (56,000 ft) above its base! The enormous volcano covers half of the Island of Hawai`i and by itself amounts to about 85 percent of all the other Hawaiian Islands combined.
Mauna Loa is among Earth's most active volcanoes, having erupted 33 times since its first well-documented historical eruption in 1843. Its most recent eruption was in 1984.
CONTACT INFORMATION: askHVO@usgs.gov
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 MONTHLY UPDATE
Tuesday, January 8, 2013 7:30 PM HST (Wednesday, January 9, 2013 05:30 UTC)
HALEAKALA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-06-) 20°42'29" N 156°15' W, Summit Elevation 10023 ft (3055 m) Current Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL Current Aviation Color Code: GREEN
There were no detected earthquakes and no other significant changes.
Background: The most recent eruption on Haleakala was probably between A.D. 1480 and 1600. Haleakala Volcano is monitored by a continuous GPS instrument and a seismometer located near the southwest edge of the crater. Key sites on Haleakala are resurveyed using GPS receivers every few years to detect any changes in the volcano's shape.
HUALALAI VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-04-) 19°41'31" N 155°52'12" W, Summit Elevation 8278 ft (2523 m) Current Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL Current Aviation Color Code: GREEN
No unusual seismicity or deformation was detected.
Background: Hualalai is the third most active volcano on Hawai`i Island and typically erupts 2 to 3 times per 1,000 years. Hualalai last erupted in 1801 and, more recently, had a damaging seismic swarm in 1929 that probably was the result of a shallow intrusion of magma. Hualalai Volcano is monitored by a single continuous GPS instrument and a single seismometer located southwest of the summit as well as several instruments on nearby flanks of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. Key sites on Hualalai and West Mauna Loa are resurveyed every other year to detect any changes in the volcano's shape. In addition, Hualalai deformation is assessed several times per year using satellite radar interferometry.
LO`IHI VOLCANO 18°55'12" N 155°16'12" W, Summit Elevation -3199 ft (-975 m) Current Volcano Alert Level: UNASSIGNED Current Aviation Color Code: UNASSIGNED
No unusual seismicity was detected. Five earthquakes (>13 km deep) were detected in the area.
Background: Lo`ihi was last active in 1952, when activity probably generated a small local tsunami, and 1996. There are no working instruments on Lo`ihi Volcano whose peak is about 1,000 m below sea level. All current information about the volcano is derived from land-based seismometers on Hawai`i Island.
MAUNA KEA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-03-) 19°49'12" N 155°28'12" W, Summit Elevation 13796 ft (4205 m) Current Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL Current Aviation Color Code: GREEN
No unusual deformation or seismicity was detected.
Six earthquakes were located beneath Mauna Kea at depths greater than 13 km (8 mi), three events were located at shallower depths.
Background: Mauna Kea was last active about 4,600 years ago. Monitoring is conducted using three seismometers and one GPS receiver on the volcano plus instruments on adjacent Kohala volcano and denser seismic and geodetic networks on the north flank of Mauna Loa to the south. In addition, satellite radar interferometry data are available a few times per month with which possible deformation can also be evaluated.
MAUNA LOA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-02=) 19°28'30" N 155°36'29" W, Summit Elevation 13681 ft (4170 m) Current Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL Current Aviation Color Code: GREEN
Mauna Loa is not inflating. Seismicity rates were low.
Deformation: is occurring at slow rates, dominated by southeasterly motion of the southeast flank. No significant uplift has been measured during the past month in GPS data nor SAR interferograms. Upgrades of many Mauna Loa sites in late 2011 produced some apparent data offsets that will be corrected once a longer post-upgrade time series is available for analysis.
Seismicity: There was no unusual seismicity. HVO seismic networks detected 1 shallow events below the summit area , 2 shallow events to the north and west of the summit, 6 shallow events on upper southwest rift, 3 shallow event on the lower southwest rift, 3 shallow events within the northwest radial vent zone.
Gas: No significant changes in SO2, CO2 were recorded by the Mokuaweoweo gas and temperature monitors during November. Fumarole temperature varied during the month from about 71 to 73 degrees C.
Background: Re-inflation of Mauna Loa's shallow magma storage reservoirs started immediately following the most recent eruption in 1984, then turned to deflation for almost a decade. In mid-2002, inflation started again, just after a brief swarm of deep long-period (LP) earthquakes. A more intense swarm of several thousand deep Long Period (LP) earthquakes occurred in late 2004, immediately preceding a dramatic increase in inflation rate. Inflation slowed again in 2006, ceased altogether in late 2009, and resumed slowly in late 2010.
Rising gradually to more than 4 km above sea level, Mauna Loa is the largest volcano on our planet. Its long submarine flanks descend to the sea floor an additional 5 km, and the sea floor in turn is depressed by Mauna Loa's great mass another 8 km. This makes the volcano's summit about 17 km (56,000 ft) above its base! The enormous volcano covers half of the Island of Hawai`i and by itself amounts to about 85 percent of all the other Hawaiian Islands combined.
Mauna Loa is among Earth's most active volcanoes, having erupted 33 times since its first well-documented historical eruption in 1843. Its most recent eruption was in 1984.
CONTACT INFORMATION: askHVO@usgs.gov
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 MONTHLY UPDATE
Wednesday, December 12, 2012 7:43 AM HST (Wednesday, December 12, 2012 17:43 UTC)
HALEAKALA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-06-) 20°42'29" N 156°15' W, Summit Elevation 10023 ft (3055 m) Current Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL Current Aviation Color Code: GREEN
There were no detected earthquakes and no other significant changes.
Background: The most recent eruption on Haleakala was probably between A.D. 1480 and 1600. Haleakala Volcano is monitored by a continuous GPS instrument and a seismometer located near the southwest edge of the crater. Key sites on Haleakala are resurveyed using GPS receivers every few years to detect any changes in the volcano's shape.
HUALALAI VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-04-) 19°41'31" N 155°52'12" W, Summit Elevation 8278 ft (2523 m) Current Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL Current Aviation Color Code: GREEN
No unusual seismicity or deformation was detected. One deep earthquake was located beneath the summit area.
Background: Hualalai is the third most active volcano on Hawai`i Island and typically erupts 2 to 3 times per 1,000 years. Hualalai last erupted in 1801 and, more recently, had a damaging seismic swarm in 1929 that probably was the result of a shallow intrusion of magma. Hualalai Volcano is monitored by a single continuous GPS instrument and a single seismometer located southwest of the summit as well as several instruments on nearby flanks of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. Key sites on Hualalai and West Mauna Loa are resurveyed every other year to detect any changes in the volcano's shape. In addition, Hualalai deformation is assessed several times per year using satellite radar interferometry.
LO`IHI VOLCANO 18°55'12" N 155°16'12" W, Summit Elevation -3199 ft (-975 m) Current Volcano Alert Level: UNASSIGNED Current Aviation Color Code: UNASSIGNED
No unusual seismicity was detected. Two earthquakes (>5 km deep) were detected in the area.
Background: Lo`ihi was last active in 1952, when activity probably generated a small local tsunami, and 1996. There are no working instruments on Lo`ihi Volcano whose peak is about 1,000 m below sea level. All current information about the volcano is derived from land-based seismometers on Hawai`i Island.
MAUNA KEA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-03-) 19°49'12" N 155°28'12" W, Summit Elevation 13796 ft (4205 m) Current Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL Current Aviation Color Code: GREEN
No unusual deformation or seismicity was detected.
Four earthquakes were located beneath Mauna Kea at depths greater than 13 km (8 mi).
Background: Mauna Kea was last active about 4,600 years ago. Monitoring is conducted using three seismometers and one GPS receiver on the volcano plus instruments on adjacent Kohala volcano and denser seismic and geodetic networks on the north flank of Mauna Loa to the south. In addition, satellite radar interferometry data are available a few times per month with which possible deformation can also be evaluated.
MAUNA LOA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-02=) 19°28'30" N 155°36'29" W, Summit Elevation 13681 ft (4170 m) Current Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL Current Aviation Color Code: GREEN
Mauna Loa is not inflating. Seismicity rates were low.
Deformation: is occurring at slow rates, dominated by southeasterly motion of the southeast flank. No significant uplift has been measured during the past month in GPS data nor SAR interferograms. Upgrades of many Mauna Loa sites in late 2011 produced some apparent data offsets that will be corrected once a longer post-upgrade time series is available for analysis.
Seismicity: There was no unusual seismicity. HVO seismic networks detected 1 shallow events below summit area, 2 shallow events to the north and west of the summit, 5 shallow events on upper southwest rift, 7 shallow event on the lower southwest rift, and 4 shallow event on the NW rift
Gas: No significant changes in SO2, CO2 were recorded by the Mokuaweoweo gas and temperature monitors during November. Fumarole temperature varied during the month from about 71 to 73 degrees C.
Background: Re-inflation of Mauna Loa's shallow magma storage reservoirs started immediately following the most recent eruption in 1984, then turned to deflation for almost a decade. In mid-2002, inflation started again, just after a brief swarm of deep long-period (LP) earthquakes. A more intense swarm of several thousand deep Long Period (LP) earthquakes occurred in late 2004, immediately preceding a dramatic increase in inflation rate. Inflation slowed again in 2006, ceased altogether in late 2009, and resumed slowly in late 2010.
Rising gradually to more than 4 km above sea level, Mauna Loa is the largest volcano on our planet. Its long submarine flanks descend to the sea floor an additional 5 km, and the sea floor in turn is depressed by Mauna Loa's great mass another 8 km. This makes the volcano's summit about 17 km (56,000 ft) above its base! The enormous volcano covers half of the Island of Hawai`i and by itself amounts to about 85 percent of all the other Hawaiian Islands combined.
Mauna Loa is among Earth's most active volcanoes, having erupted 33 times since its first well-documented historical eruption in 1843. Its most recent eruption was in 1984.
CONTACT INFORMATION: askHVO@usgs.gov
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.
