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HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY MONTHLY UPDATE
U.S. Geological Survey
Thursday, December 5, 2024, 10:06 AM HST (Thursday, December 5, 2024, 20:06 UTC)


MAUNA LOA (VNUM #332020)
19°28'30" N 155°36'29" W, Summit Elevation 13681 ft (4170 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL
Current Aviation Color Code: GREEN

Seismicity beneath Mauna Loa's summit and upper-elevation flanks has been low over the past month; approximately 60 small-magnitude earthquakes (most below M1.5) were detected, which is expected for the post-eruption phase of this volcano and similar to the previous month. There were approximately 6 earthquakes deeper than 10 km (8 mi).

Data from Global Positioning System (GPS) instruments on Mauna Loa showed only continued minor inflation near the summit as the volcano recovers from the 2022 eruption and magma replenishes the reservoir system. 

Gas and temperature data from a station on Mauna Loa's Southwest Rift Zone show that H2S averages below about 10 ppm, SO2 remains below the detection limit, and average fumarole temperatures remain steady at near 83°C, all of which are unchanged from previous months.

HVO continues to closely monitor Mauna Loa and will issue another update in one month, or earlier, should conditions change significantly.



Background: Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano on our planet and covers half of the Island of Hawaiʻi. Eruptions tend to produce voluminous, fast-moving lava flows that can impact communities on the east and west sides of the Island.

Mauna Loa eruptions typically start at the summit and, within minutes to months of eruption onset, can migrate into either the Northeast or Southwest Rift Zone, or radial vents on the north flank. Since its first well-documented eruption in 1843, the volcano has erupted 34 times with intervals between eruptions ranging from months to decades. Mauna Loa erupted most recently in 2022.

More Information:



HUALALAI (VNUM #332040)
19°41'31" N 155°52'12" W, Summit Elevation 8278 ft (2523 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL
Current Aviation Color Code: GREEN

No significant activity was detected at Hualālai volcano during the past month. Seismic activity remained low, and was representative of background activity levels at the volcano; earthquakes were of small magnitudes (below M1.5). The continuously recording Global Positioning System (GPS) instrument on Hualālai recorded no significant deformation in the past month.



Background: Hualālai is the third most active volcano on the Island of Hawaiʻi and typically erupts two to three times per 1,000 years. Hualālai last erupted in 1801 and, more recently, had a damaging seismic swarm in 1929 that was probably the result of a shallow intrusion of magma. Hualālai Volcano is monitored by a continuous GPS instrument and seismometer located southeast of the summit, as well as several instruments on nearby flanks of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. Key sites on Hualālai and western Mauna Loa are resurveyed using GPS receivers every few years to detect any changes in the volcano's shape.

More Information:
Hualālai volcano summary also available by phone: (808) 967-8877
Hualālai website: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/hualalai



HALEAKALA (VNUM #332060)
20°42'29" N 156°15' W, Summit Elevation 10023 ft (3055 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL
Current Aviation Color Code: GREEN

No significant activity was detected at Haleakalā volcano during the past month. Seismic activity remained low, and was representative of background activity levels at the volcano. The continuously recording Global Positioning System (GPS) instrument on Haleakalā shows no significant changes.



Background: The most recent eruption on Haleakalā was probably between A.D. 1480 and 1600. Haleakalā Volcano is monitored by a continuous GPS instrument and seismometer located near the southwest edge of the summit crater. Key sites on Haleakalā are resurveyed using GPS receivers every few years to detect any changes in the volcano's shape.

More Information:
Haleakalā volcano summary also available by phone: (808) 967-8877
Haleakalā website: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/haleakala



MAUNA KEA (VNUM #332030)
19°49'12" N 155°28'12" W, Summit Elevation 13802 ft (4207 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL
Current Aviation Color Code: GREEN

No significant activity was detected at Mauna Kea volcano during the past month. Seismic activity was at background levels at the volcano. The continuously recording Global Positioning System (GPS) instrument on Mauna Kea (MKPM, operated by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory) showed no change. 



Background: Mauna Kea is a shield volcano in the post-shield stage; it last erupted about 4,600 years ago. Monitoring is conducted by one GPS instrument and three seismometers on the volcano, plus instruments on adjacent Kohala Volcano and denser geodetic and seismic networks on the north flank of Mauna Loa to the south. With a summit at 4,207 meters (13,803 feet) above sea level, Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the State of Hawaii, and it is the tallest mountain on Earth when measured from its base on the ocean floor.

More Information:
Mauna Kea volcano summary also available by phone: (808) 967-8877
Mauna Kea website: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-kea



KAMA'EHUAKANALOA (VNUM #332000)
18°55'12" N 155°16'12" W, Summit Elevation -3199 ft (-975 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: UNASSIGNED
Current Aviation Color Code: UNASSIGNED

Seismicity was elevated very early in November at Kamaʻehuakanaloa volcano (formerly Lōʻihi Seamount), but activity has since returned to low levels. There have been about 25 earthquakes in the past month, which is representative of background activity at the volcano; all earthquakes were of small magnitudes (below M3.0).



Background: Intermittent earthquake activity has been recorded in the vicinity of Kamaʻehuakanaloa (formerly Lōʻihi) since as early as 1952. The most energetic earthquake sequence occurred in July–August 1996, which included more than 4,000 earthquakes, with nearly 300 events larger than M3.0 and 95 events in the M4.0 to 4.9 range. More recently, a swarm of 100 earthquakes occurred on May 11, 2020, with 18 events in the M3.0 to 3.9 range. There are no working monitoring instruments on Kamaʻehuakanaloa, whose peak is about 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) below sea level. All real-time information about the volcano is derived from land-based seismometers on the Island of Hawai‘i.

More Information:
Kamaʻehuakanaloa website: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kama'ehuakanaloa


Hawaiian Volcanoes at Elevated Alert Levels:
Kīlauea Volcano (YELLOW/ADVISORY) updates: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/volcano-updates



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 Hawaiʻi and American Samoa.



CONTACT INFORMATION:

askHVO@usgs.gov



Subscribe to these messages: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vns2/
Summary of volcanic hazards from eruptions: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/hazards
Recent earthquakes in Hawaiʻi (map and list): https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo
Explanation of Volcano Alert Levels and Aviation Color Codes: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/volcanic-alert-levels-characterize-conditions-us-volcanoes