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Recent Mauna Loa Status Reports, Updates, and Information Releases

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY BIWEEKLY UPDATEWednesday, November 18, 2009 12:18 PM HST (Wednesday, November 18, 2009 22:18 UTC)

Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:

MAUNA LOA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-02=)
19°28'30" N 155°36'29" W, Summit Elevation 13681 ft (4170 m)
Current Aviation Color Code: YELLOW
Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY

Mauna Loa is not erupting. Minimal extension, as measured by GPS receivers on opposite sides of the volcano, continued.

Tiltmeters have recorded no significant changes other than abrupt offsets that are related to instrumental issues, severe weather, or significant earthquakes.

Sensors within a fissure in Moku`aweoweo crater floor reported gas concentrations and fumarole temperatures within normal values.

Since the beginning of January, 2005, HVO analysts have rarely located more than 10 earthquakes per week beneath Mauna Loa summit and 1-5 earthquakes beneath the Kealakekua area of west Mauna Loa. The Kao`iki seismic zone between Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcano summits remained active with an average of about 10-40 earthquakes per week; these numbers may reflect increased seismic activity nearer Kilauea summit rather than increased Ka`oiki activity.

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 Hawai`i.

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY BIWEEKLY UPDATEWednesday, November 4, 2009 11:48 AM HST (Wednesday, November 4, 2009 21:48 UTC)

Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:

MAUNA LOA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-02=)
19°28'30" N 155°36'29" W, Summit Elevation 13681 ft (4170 m)
Current Aviation Color Code: YELLOW
Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY

Mauna Loa is not erupting. Minimal extension, as measured by GPS receivers on opposite sides of the volcano, continued.

Tiltmeters have recorded no significant changes other than abrupt offsets that are related to instrumental issues, severe weather, or significant earthquakes.

Sensors within a fissure in Moku`aweoweo crater floor reported gas concentrations and fumarole temperatures within normal values.

Since the beginning of January, 2005, HVO analysts have rarely located more than 10 earthquakes per week beneath Mauna Loa summit and 1-5 earthquakes beneath the Kealakekua area of west Mauna Loa. The Kao`iki seismic zone between Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcano summits remained active with an average of about 10-40 earthquakes per week; these numbers may reflect increased seismic activity nearer Kilauea summit rather than increased Ka`oiki activity.

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 Hawai`i.

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY BIWEEKLY UPDATEWednesday, October 7, 2009 6:31 PM HST (Thursday, October 8, 2009 04:31 UTC)

Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:

MAUNA LOA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-02=)
19°28'30" N 155°36'29" W, Summit Elevation 13681 ft (4170 m)
Current Aviation Color Code: YELLOW
Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY

Mauna Loa is not erupting. Slow extension, as measured by GPS receivers on opposite sides of the volcano, continued. Since the end of 2008, extension rates have increased due to the resumption of magma intrusion beneath the summit caldera, as well as continued slippage of the east flank.

Tiltmeters have recorded no significant changes other than abrupt offsets that are related to instrumental issues, severe weather, or significant earthquakes.

Sensors within a fissure in Moku`aweoweo crater floor were repaired on Oct. 2; gas concentrations are within normal values; temperatures continue to decrease.

Since the beginning of January, 2005, HVO analysts have rarely located more than 10 earthquakes per week beneath Mauna Loa summit and 1-5 earthquakes beneath the Kealakekua area of west Mauna Loa. The Kao`iki seismic zone between Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcano summits remained active with an average of about 10-40 earthquakes per week; these numbers may reflect increased seismic activity nearer Kilauea summit rather than increased Ka`oiki activity.

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 Hawai`i.

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY BIWEEKLY UPDATEMonday, September 21, 2009 2:21 PM HST (Tuesday, September 22, 2009 00:21 UTC)

Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:

MAUNA LOA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-02=)
19°28'30" N 155°36'29" W, Summit Elevation 13681 ft (4170 m)
Current Aviation Color Code: YELLOW
Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY

Mauna Loa is not erupting. Slow extension, as measured by GPS receivers on opposite sides of the volcano, continued. Since the end of 2008, extension rates have increased due to the resumption of magma intrusion beneath the summit caldera, as well as continued slippage of the east flank.

Tiltmeters have recorded no significant changes other than abrupt offsets that are related to instrumental issues, severe weather, or significant earthquakes.

Sensors within a fissure in Moku`aweoweo crater floor have been offline since Aug. 17; they will be repaired as soon as is practical.

Since the beginning of January, 2005, HVO analysts have rarely located more than 10 earthquakes per week beneath Mauna Loa summit and 1-5 earthquakes beneath the Kealakekua area of west Mauna Loa. The Kao`iki seismic zone between Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcano summits remained active with an average of about 10-40 earthquakes per week; these numbers may reflect increased seismic activity nearer Kilauea summit rather than increased Ka`oiki activity.

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 Hawai`i.

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY BIWEEKLY UPDATEThursday, September 10, 2009 11:25 AM HST (Thursday, September 10, 2009 21:25 UTC)

Report prepared by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:

MAUNA LOA VOLCANO (CAVW #1302-02=)
19°28'30" N 155°36'29" W, Summit Elevation 13681 ft (4170 m)
Current Aviation Color Code: YELLOW
Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY

Mauna Loa is not erupting. Slow extension, as measured by GPS receivers on opposite sides of the volcano, continued. Since the end of 2008, extension rates have increased due to the resumption of magma intrusion beneath the summit caldera, as well as continued slippage of the east flank.

Tiltmeters have recorded no significant changes other than abrupt offsets that are related to instrumental issues, severe weather, or significant earthquakes.

Sensors within a fissure in Moku`aweoweo crater floor continued to record background gas concentrations and fumarole temperatures until an instrumental problem put them offline on Aug. 17; they will be repaired as soon as is practical.

A magnitude-3.3 earthquake occurred on September 9, 2009, at 7:22 p.m. H.s.t., and was located 13 km (8 miles) southeast of Honaunau-Napoopoo, on the west flank of Mauna Loa, at a depth of 11 km (7 miles). The earthquake was a 'basal slip' earthquake, where Mauna Loa's west flank slid over the older oceanic crust, in response to magmatic forces within Mauna Loa. Basal earthquakes with much larger magnitudes (estimated 7.9 in 1868 and 7.2 in 1975, for example) have produced considerable damage and local tsunamis in Hawai`i. The Sept. 9 magnitude-3.3 earthquake produced only weak shaking in nearby areas.

Since the beginning of January, 2005, HVO analysts have rarely located more than 10 earthquakes per week beneath Mauna Loa summit and 1-5 earthquakes beneath the Kealakekua area of west Mauna Loa. The Kao`iki seismic zone between Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcano summits remained active with an average of about 10-40 earthquakes per week; these numbers may reflect increased seismic activity nearer Kilauea summit rather than increased Ka`oiki activity.

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 Hawai`i.

Update Archive

Older updates can be found using the HVO Archive Form.

New Update Format

For more information about the Volcano Alert Level and Aviation Color Code, please see the U.S. Geological Survey's Alert Notification System for Volcanic Activity Fact Sheet (pdf) or the USGS Volcanic Activity Alert-Notification System web page.

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Page Last Modified: Thursday, 02-Apr-2009 13:32:44 (dyv)