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Volcano Updates

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory issues updates and other types of Mauna Loa notifications as activity warrants.

Alert Level: NORMAL, Color Code: GREEN 2024-03-07 20:33:41 UTC

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY MONTHLY UPDATE
U.S. Geological Survey
Thursday, March 7, 2024, 10:33 AM HST (Thursday, March 7, 2024, 20:33 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

Shallow seismicity beneath Mauna Loa's summit and upper-elevation flanks has been relatively low over the past month; approximately 42 small-magnitude earthquakes (below M3.0) were detected, which is expected for a post-eruption volcano. There were very few earthquakes deeper than 8 mi (13 km).

Data from Global Positioning System (GPS) instruments on Mauna Loa, record a small inflationary trend as the volcano recovers from the 2022 eruption, and magma begins to replenish the reservoir system. 

Gas and temperature data from a station on Mauna Loa's Southwest Rift Zone show no significant changes in the past month.

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:

askHVO@usgs.gov



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