Graphic by Natasha Nagarajan '26.
By Catelyn Fitzgerald ’23
Science & Environment Editor
On Nov. 27, 2022, residents of the Hawaiian Islands were alerted of an impending volcano eruption. Approximately an hour later, lava began to flow from Mauna Loa for the first time in 38 years, The New York Times reported. “Mauna Loa,” which is Hawaiian for “Long Mountain,” is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, according to a report from the U.S. Geological Survey. The volcano stretches over half of the Island of Hawai‘i and measures around 10.6 miles tall, the report said. According to the report, Mauna Loa’s first “well-documented historical eruption” was in 1843, and it has since erupted 33 times, most recently in 1984.
Photos of the eruption published by The New York Times depict lava with striking yellow and orange hues that illuminate surrounding rock as it flows down the sides of the volcano, its molten arms turning and branching as they navigate the topography of the mountain. The lava’s glow reflects off giant plumes of gas that rise from Mauna Loa’s core, coloring it with deep reds and oranges. According to CNN, Mauna Loa has drawn crowds of “awestruck visitors,” with some visiting in the late hours of the night for a more private viewing of the eruption.
Regular updates from the U.S. Geological Survey keep followers of the eruption aware of Mauna Loa’s activity. The latest update, posted on Dec. 7, stated that the eruption poses no risk to property at this time. It further reported that lava is now 1.8 miles from the Daniel K. Inouye Highway, a major road that lies north of the volcano. The lava is flowing at a rate of slower than 20 feet per hour, according to the update. The update explained that both the direction and flow rate are likely to change in the coming days and weeks. Volcanic eruptions take on many shapes and sizes, according to an article from the National Park Service. Some consist of violent explosions that spew ash into the atmosphere, while others appear more like a gentle overflow of lava. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, several earthquakes were detected beneath the Mauna Loa summit in the time leading up to the eruption. This “heightened unrest” beneath the volcano occurred due to the inflow of magma into the volcano’s summit reservoir system. Possible outcomes of a Mauna Loa eruption include fast-moving lava flows, earthquakes, volcanic gas emissions and ashfall, all of which pose a potential risk to public health and safety, the U.S. Geological Survey explained.
The New York Times reported that Mauna Loa’s eruption has given researchers an advantageous but fleeting opportunity to gain a better understanding of the volcano’s inner workings. The article explained that little is known about the processes occurring inside Mauna Loa, with scientists awaiting its next eruption to collect more data on the volcano. Wendy Stovall, a volcanologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, described Mauna Loa as “one of the most well-instrumented volcanoes in the United States” to The New York Times, with seismometers, spectrometers and other state-of-the-art instruments ensuring that the Mauna Loa could not so much as sneeze without being noticed by scientists. According to the article, it is unknown how long the eruption will last, causing scientists to scramble to collect as much data as possible before the lava stops flowing.
Mauna Loa is not Hawai‘i’s only erupting volcano. Mere miles away, Kīlauea volcano continues an eruption that has been ongoing since Sept. 29, 2021, according to an article from the National Park Service. The article reports that Kīlauea’s activity remains confined to its crater. The article does, however, warn readers of volcanic gas and glass fragments produced by the eruption, as well as the instability of the crater walls. The article reported that no significant changes have been observed at the summit or in either rift zone as a result of the Mauna Loa eruption.