Alert Level: NORMAL, Color Code: GREEN 2024-09-05 19:08:41 UTC
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY MONTHLY UPDATE
U.S. Geological Survey
Thursday, September 5, 2024, 9:08 AM HST (Thursday, September 5, 2024, 19:08 UTC)
MAUNA LOA (VNUM #332020)
19°28'30" N 155°36'29" W, Summit Elevation 13681 ft (4170 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL
Current Aviation Color Code: GREEN
Seismicity beneath Mauna Loa's summit and upper-elevation flanks has been low over the past month; approximately 37 small-magnitude earthquakes (most below M2.5) were detected, which is expected for the post-eruption phase of this volcano. There were approximately 2 earthquakes deeper than 13 km (8 mi).
Data from Global Positioning System (GPS) instruments on Mauna Loa, record a very slight inflationary trend near the summit as the volcano recovers from the 2022 eruption, and magma replenishes the reservoir system.
Gas and temperature data from a station on Mauna Loa's Southwest Rift Zone show that H2S averages below 10 ppm, SO2 remains below the detection limit, and fumarole temperatures remain steady at 83°C, all of which are unchanged from previous months.
HVO continues to closely monitor Mauna Loa and will issue another update in one month, or earlier, should conditions change significantly.
Background: Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano on our planet and covers half of the Island of Hawaiʻi. Eruptions tend to produce voluminous, fast-moving lava flows that can impact communities on the east and west sides of the Island.
Mauna Loa eruptions typically start at the summit and, within minutes to months of eruption onset, can migrate into either the Northeast or Southwest Rift Zone, or radial vents on the north flank. Since its first well-documented eruption in 1843, the volcano has erupted 34 times with intervals between eruptions ranging from months to decades. Mauna Loa erupted most recently in 2022.
More Information:
This notice contains volcanoes not displayed here: Hualalai (NORMAL/GREEN), Haleakala (NORMAL/GREEN), Mauna Kea (NORMAL/GREEN), Kama'ehuakanaloa (UNASSIGNED/UNASSIGNED).
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 Hawaiʻi and American Samoa.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
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Subscribe to these messages: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vns2/
Summary of volcanic hazards from eruptions: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/hazards
Recent earthquakes in Hawaiʻi (map and list): https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo
Explanation of Volcano Alert Levels and Aviation Color Codes: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/volcanic-alert-levels-characterize-conditions-us-volcanoes