Mauna Loa Essay

The United States is home to approximately 169 volcanoes (“How many”, n.d.). One well-known volcano in this country is Mauna Loa, also known as Long Mountain. It is the largest volcano in the world (“Pictures: America’s”, n.d.). The Pacific Ocean rests underneath the volcano (“Frequently Asked”, n.d.). Along with Kohala, Mauna Kea, Hualalai, and Kilauea, it forms Hawaii (“Mauna Loa Earth’s”, n.d.). The physical characteristics of Mauna Loa contribute to the ongoing examinations to monitor its impact to surrounding communities and environment.
Mauna Loa is a shield volcano. These volcanoes are usually composed of basalt, which enables them to possess a gentle slope, fluid and pahoehoe lava. The fluidity nature allows the volcano to not be deadly (“Geologic Hazards”, n.d.). The volcano consists of tholeiitic basalt (“Mauna Loa Volcano”, n.d.). Some of oldest rocks in the structure are from 100,000 to 200,000 years ago (“Mauna Loa Earth’s”, n.d.). It is currently on 19.475 N 155.608 W and 13,680
feet tall (“Mauna Loa Earth’s”, n.d.). The volcano makes up approximately half of the island by being 2,035 mi2 when compared to the four adjoined volcanoes (“Mauna Loa Earth’s”, n.d.). Due to its presence near populated areas, it is placed in the Decade Volcanoes program that investigates the potential hazard it may present (“Volcanoes on Earth” n.d.).
Volcanoes are usually formed near a platonic boundary, but Mauna Loa is an exception.
Since Mauna Loa is part of Hawaii, it is formed by a hot spot (“Hawaii: Geology”, n.d.). The Pacific Plate, known as a hot spot, is present in Kilauea, Loihi seamount, and Mauna Loa. The plate enabled the formation of Mauna Loa, thus produces consecutive eruptions. Although eruptions can be hazardous, the ones in Hawaii are considerably not destructive (“Hawaii: Geology”, n.d.). Mauna Loa and the near Kiluaea (“Hawaii: Geology”, n.d.) are the only relatively active volcanoes in Hawaii. One of the first eruptions of Mauna Loa occurred about 700,000 to 1,000,000 years ago (“Mauna Loa Earth’s”, n.d.). It is estimated every six years the Mauna Loa erupts lava flows (“Frequently Asked”, n.d.) An initial documented account of an eruption was in 1780 (“Eruption History”, n.d.). The volcano has reportedly erupted thirty-three times since 1843, making it one of the most active volcanoes on the
planet.
The eruption in 1984 developed in Moku’aweoweo and quickly moved towards the Southwest Rift Zone and Northeast Rift Zone (“Eruption History”, n.d.). Some of the known documented eruptions of Mauna Loa occurred in 1881, 1855-1856, 1859, 1950. In 1950, . In 1881, the volcano affected the area of Hilo (bigislandnow). In 1885-1856, Mauna Loa exhibited high flow levels (“Eruption History”, n.d.).
Some eruptions have been more harmful than others. Unfortunately, in 1859, a three-hundred-day eruption instilled fear and endangered the welfare of the nearby communities, Wainanali’i and Kiholo. The prolonged eruption is documented as the second longest eruption of the volcano (“The 1859 Eruption”, 2002). The resources of communities were damaged by the severe activities of the eruption (“The 1859 Eruption”, 2002). The fishponds were contaminated (“The 1859 Eruption”, 2002). The eruption affected land, which harmed nutritious elements of daily intake. The produced clouds are a composition of acidic and glass material, which is detrimental to the health and anatomy of present villagers (“The 1859 Eruption”, 2002). Due to its nature, Mauna Loa will erupt again, but not soon. It is predicted Mauna Loa will erupt near its caldera, Moku’aweoweo (“Frequently Asked”, n.d.). The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of the institutions that examine the activities of Mauna Loa (“Frequently Asked”, n.d.). The organization among other groups use seismometers, tiltmeters, gas sensors, various cameras, and gravimeters to observe the levels of activity of the volcano (“Frequently Asked”, n.d). The seismometers measure the motion of the ground; thus measures the movement of the volcano (“seismometer”, n.d.). The tiltmeters measures the vertical changes of the surface; thus records the structure of the surface as the volcano moves (“tiltmeter”, n.d.). The gas sensors identify air in the atmosphere, which track the air emission from the volcano (“What is Gas Sensor”, n.d.). Webcams, thermal cameras, and time-lapse cameras are used to document images of the volcano where experts are not able to closely attend (“Frequently Asked”, n.d.). The gravimeter is a device used to measure weight changes on the ground. (“Gravimeter”, n.d.). These instruments enable the establishment to record and analyze the activities of Mauna Loa to predict future eruptions and protect the communities near the volcano. It is essential for the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory to supervise any changes to prioritize the safety and well-being of the environment and the inhabitants of the area.