Hawaii’s Dual Volcanic Eruptions & What Visitors May Need To Know
Dear Friends & Neighbors,
Mauna Loa eruption: Nov. 29, 2022: Aerial photograph of the dominant fissure 3 erupting on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa, taken at approximately 8 a.m. HST November 29, 2022. Fissure 3 fountains were up to 25 m (82 ft) this morning and the vent was feeding the main lava flow to the northeast. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fissure_3_of_the_2022_Mauna_Loa_eruption_closeup.jpg, Attribution: M. Patrick/USGS, Public Domain license: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain, Presented at: WindermereSun.com)
Aerial photo captured during an overflight of the Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa at approximately 5-6:30 p.m. HST on November 28, 2022. This photo shows a braided lava flow on the northeast flank, which is being generated from the line of fissure vents erupting above 10,000 ft elevation on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aerial_overview_of_an_erupting_fissure_of_the_2022_Mauna_Loa_eruption.jpg (Attribution: Civil Air Patrol/USGS, Public Domain license: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain, Presented at: WindermereSun.com)
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Dual eruptions have not been seen since 1984, according to National Park Service. Hawaii’s Mauna Loa on the Big Island, the world’s largest active volcano, erupted for the first time in decades on Sunday night (December 4, 2022), and the nearby Kilauea of the Big Island is also erupting. Jessica Ferracane, spokesperson for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, said, “To the people of Hawaii, this is a very sacred event that we are watching.”
Mauna Loa is now closed due to the eruption that began on 11/27/2022. Mauna Loa Road is closed to vehicles from Kīpukapuaulu and closed to pedestrians and bikes from the first cattle guard. The closure extends to the summit caldera. Main park areas remain open. Lava from Kīlauea and a night glow from Mauna Loa is currently visible from many areas and overlooks surrounding Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera) within the national park. Viewing conditions can change at any time depending on eruptive activity and weather conditions such as fog or rain.
Consider factors such as viewing experience, long waits and crowds, hiking ability, and available time when selecting where to view the eruption. Check out the park map and download the new NPS mobile app to help you navigate during your visit.
Air quality at Kīlauea and adjacent areas are affected by volcanic sulfur dioxide gas (SO2) and particulate matter (PM2.5) from Mauna Loa. People with pre-existing respiratory conditions are especially sensitive to poor air quality and should check the air quality alert before visiting. For information on potential hazards of Mauna Loa, please visit the Hawaiʻi County Volcano Hazards webpage.
Hawaii’s volcano national park is still open and is drawing spectators eager to see the lava flow from two neighboring volcano eruptions simultaneously, not threatening any populated area. But the Governor of Hawaii David Ige has declared an emergency. Hawaii state health officials indicated that the eruption could cause ash and sulfur dioxide to negatively impact the air quality across the state. One would imagine that Kauai or Kaua’i air quality would not be as negatively impacted by the eruptions on the Big Island.
Hawaii Gov. David Ige and other officials provided an update Monday on the eruption at Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano. Mauna Loa started erupting Sunday night and lava was flowing from its summit by Monday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey said, in the video published on Nov. 28, 2022, by CBS News, as “Hawaii Gov. David Ige, officials give update on Mauna Loa eruption | full video“, below:
For more details about the recent eruption on Mauna Loa, please refer to the excerpt from wikipedia, in italics, below:
From 1985 to 2022, the volcano had its longest period of quiet in recorded history.[45][59] Magma had been accumulating beneath Mauna Loa since the 1984 eruption, and the U.S. Geological Survey in February 2021 reported that although an eruption “did not appear to be imminent,” the volcano had shown elevated signs of unrest since 2019, including a slight increase in the rate of inflation at the volcano’s summit.[60]
The quiet period ended at 11:30 PM HST on November 27, 2022, when an eruption began at the volcano’s summit in Moku‘āweoweo (Mauna Loa’s caldera).[4] Lava flows emanating from the caldera became visible from Kailua-Kona in the hours immediately following the eruption. The eruption remained confined to the caldera until approximately 6:30 AM HST on November 28, when the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory observed that the eruption had migrated from the summit to the Northeast Rift Zone.[61] Three fissures were initially observed in the rift zone, with the first two becoming inactive by 1:30 PM on the 28th. Before becoming inactive, the two upper fissures fed lava flows that moved downslope, however those flows stalled approximately 11 miles (18 km) from Saddle Road. Lava fountains were also observed emanating from the fissures, with the tallest reaching up to 200 feet (61 m) into the air.[62] As lava flows from the third fissure expanded, they cut off the road to the Mauna Loa Observatory at approximately 8 PM on the 28th. Activity in the rift zone continued on the 29th, with a fourth fissure that opened at approximately 7:30 PM on the 28th joining the third in releasing lava flows. The front of the third fissure’s lava flows also continues to move, and was located approximately 2.7 miles (4.3 km) from Saddle Road at 7 AM on December 2. The HVO currently expects that the eruption will remain within the Northeast Rift Zone, and no property is currently at risk.[63]
More on Mauna Loa, please click HERE.
For “Mauna Loa, World’s Largest Active Volcano Erupts In Hawaii“, please click HERE.
CNN’s David Culver gets a bird’s-eye view of Mauna Loa’s eruption, the world’s largest active volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island, in the video published on Dec. 5, 2022, by CNN, as “CNN gets rare access to Mauna Loa volcano“, below:
Hawaii is experiencing the rare sight of two neighboring volcanoes erupting simultaneously. New lava flows gushed down Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano, and Kilauea on the archipelago’s Big Island Tuesday. Scientists say a threat to humans is unlikely thus far, but as hot lava flows cause disruption and move closer to neighborhoods, danger is not out of the question. Jonathan Vigliotti reports, in the video published on Nov. 30, 2022, by CBS News, as “Two volcanoes on Hawaii’s Big Island erupt simultaneously for the first time in decades“, below:
The world’s largest active volcano, Mauna Loa on Hawaii’s Big Island, has erupted for the first time in nearly 40 years, shooting 200-foot-high sprays of lava overhead and sending molten rock down its northeast side, in the video published on Dec. 5, 2022, by USA TODAY, as “Watch live: Mauna Loa volcano erupts in Hawaii“, below:
Hawaii’s Mauna Loa volcano continues to erupt and is threatening to cut off the main highway on the island. Currently there has been no threat to surrounding communities, but scientists warn the lava flow could change direction unexpectedly and endanger locals, in the video published on Dec. 5, 2022, by Sky News, as “Watch live: Hawaii’s Mauna Loa volcano continues to erupt“, below:
Gathered, written, and posted by Windermere Sun-Susan Sun Nunamaker More about the community at www.WindermereSun.com
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