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
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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.
Prelims Takeaway
- Types of volcanoes
- Pacific ring of fire