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Possible eruption of Mauna Loa, world’s largest volcano

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Possible eruption of Mauna Loa, world’s largest volcano

  • There have been tremors near Mauna Loa, the largest active volcano in the world, indicating that it could erupt.

Mauna Loa

  • One of five volcanoes that make up the Big Island of Hawaii.
  • Southernmost island in the Hawaiian archipelago.
  • Largest and makes up about half of the island’s land mass.
  • Lies immediately north of Kilauea volcano - currently erupting from its summit crater.
  • Last erupted 38 years ago.
  • Erupted 33 times.

Eruptions in Mauna Loa

  • Has a greater height and steeper slopes.
  • Allow lava to rush down its hillsides faster than Kilauea’s.
  • Has more magma stored, leading to larger lava flows when an eruption occurs.

Monitoring Mauna Loa

  • 60 GPS stations are measuring to estimate the location and the amount of magma accumulating beneath the surface.

  • Tiltmeters are used to track long-term changes in the tilting of the ground, helping them identify when the ground is swelling or deflating.
  • A rapid change in tilt can indicate when an eruption will occur.
  • There’s also a thermal webcam at Mauna Loa’s summit that will identify the presence of heat.
  • And satellite radar can keep track of ground swelling and deflation.

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Prelims Takeaway

  • Types of volcanoes
  • Pacific ring of fire

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