Mauna Loa volcano (Hawai'i): increased shallow earthquakes, alert level raised
Fri, 18 Sep 2015, 06:47 | BY: T
The alert level of the world's largest volcano was raised a notch to "ADVISORY", and the Aviation Color code to "YELLOW" becuase shallow earthquakes have recently appeared in increasing numbers under the volcano. There is no sign that the volcano is about to erupt in a very near future, but it could be a medium- or long-term precursor of a next eruption.The last eruption of Manua Loa occurred in 1984.
The original report by USGS:
"HVO seismic stations continue to record elevated rates of shallow, small-magnitude earthquakes beneath Mauna Loa's summit, upper Southwest Rift Zone, and west flank. For at least the past year, the rate of shallow earthquakes has varied but overall has remained above the long-term average. During this same time period, HVO has measured ground deformation consistent with recharge of the volcano's shallow magma storage system.
Together, these observations indicate the volcano is no longer at a background level of activity. Accordingly, HVO is elevating the Mauna Loa alert level to ADVISORY and the aviation color code to YELLOW."
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Previous news
Wed, 16 Sep 2015, 06:00
Mauna Loa volcano (Hawaiian Islands, USA) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 16 September-22 September 2015 (New Activity / Unrest)
On 18 September HVO reported that for at least the previous year the seismic network at Mauna Loa detected elevated seismicity beneath the summit, upper Southwest Rift Zone, and W flank; the rate of these shallow earthquakes varied but overall had remained above the long-term average. The earthquakes locations were similar to those preceding recent eruptions in 1975 and 1984, although the magnitudes were comparatively low. In addition, ground deformation consistent with recharge of the volcano's shallow magma storage system was also detected during the previous year. ... Read all
Wed, 18 Sep 2013, 10:51
Mauna Loa volcano (Hawai'i) - earthquake swarm as possible sign of gradual reawakening
A small earthquake swarm occurred last week under the volcano. During 5-7 September, HVO detected about 350 small earthquakes up to magnitude 2.4 in a tightly clustered area at about 7 km depth west of the summit caldera. Only about 25 were strong enough to be located (map). ... Read all
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