Aloha 'Oe

 Week 03 - Volcanic eruptions 

A-L-O-H-A my fellow geologists!

When you look at all the photos from your latest vacation or your family member or friend's last adventure do you ever think about a VOLCANO in Hawaii! If you haven't greeted the beautiful atmosphere or took a quick swim in the blue, clear ocean. Let's go for a little field trip!

Mauna Loa (mah-oo-nah low-ah) is one of the five volcanoes that surround the islands of Hawaii. It is the largest subaerial volcano in both mass and volume. "Mauna Loa is comprised of the main summit caldera called Moku‘āweoweo and three rift zones to the northeast, northwest, and southwest. Eruptions of Mauna Loa most often will begin in the summit caldera and then later migrate to a rift zone. Mauna Loa has erupted 33 times since 1843— averaging once every five years. Over a longer period of time, the past 3,000 years, it's estimated to have erupted once every six years. We are currently in the volcano's longest quiet period since written records have been kept, as it has not erupted since 1984." page reference:National Park Service

I was amazed at how this volcano was changing from year to year and taking over different areas of the big island. As well as where the lava was flowing in all directions from the beginning of time. Its eruptions can be tabulated and shown how often and calculated in hopes to understand when its next eruption will take place. The last eruption was in 1984 and I am certain this is its quiet stages. It makes you think when the next one will take place. The data and technology these days can help us understand what is going on withing the Earth's core and mantle. If you look at the chart above, you will see a significant difference between 1881 to 1984. In our readings, the text talks about how the lava comes to the surface and what is created when the material reaches outside the Earth's crust.