Mauna Loa erupting

[TomK]

The thought of having to listen Magno stumble through his third grade book report again sends shivers up my spine. 

https://youtu.be/mgVuVFAj5KM

I just wanted to curl up into the fetal position and cover myself with a soundproof blanket.

[taropatch]

How do they stop people from walking into the lava field to get closer to the flow? Are there miles of fenced off area along the highway with guards?

[kalianna]

It's not fenced but there's five miles of lava to cross. Probably at night. Not fun. Been there done that. And the cops would see the flashlights and greet you on your way out. But I envy those adventurous enough to attempt it.

TomK, I was actually rather impressed with our CD guy's presentation. I think it's because it was via zoom. Keeps the stage fright at bay.

[Chas]

Just got back. Started the day by going up around 8am. Yeah, I know, too late to see but since it was cloudy, it was kind of visible. Saw the fountains through binoculars. Came back, went to J. Hara and bought a $100 Bushnell spotting scope.

Went back up around 7. The scope was great for seeing the fountains. And yeah, a zoo. People were amazingly somewhat ok except for the idiots that insist on putting flashers on (um, you're in a line of 30 cars on the side of the road, I think people are aware of your presence), or the ones that insist on leaving their headlights on (what do they care, THEY can see).

Yes, view is better on the Hilo side of MK access rd. We did drive to the rest area but didn't go in due to the hordes of cars waiting to exit. We knew that would be an hours long nightmare. We turned around and there were some cops going towards Hilo announcing on their loudspeaker that if people didn't move their cars they would be cited. This despite them being at least 10 feet PAST the shoulder edge, well away from the road. I guess that was the start of a "sweep". Good luck with that. There had to be several hundred cars parked.

On the way back home we decided to see if "the view from the national park was spectacular" as stated in an interview we heard earlier today. Got there at 9:30pm. Drove towards the Jaggar Museum but it was blocked off at the Kilauea overlook. (Road was open to the museum earlier in the month)

Walked up and could only see a faint glow from Kilauea. As for the spectacular view of Mauna Loa, well, it was a view of one fountain that was actually pretty dynamic through the spotting scope. And, after being there for a while, realized it WAS spectacular in the fact that there was only a few people there. The quiet was magnificent. That pure silence and the gentle breeze reminded me of the good old days of hiking out to Kamoamoa from the end of Chain of Craters road. Not as much to see but actually a better experience overall. IDK, maybe I was shell-shocked from earlier.

I think if I do it again I'll just go to the park late in the evening.

[dobanion]

From the early morning webcam from MK I'd guess it's about 2 miles closer to the highway than same time yesterday. Spreading out and slowing down, as expected.

[MyManao]

We talked to a wonderful old couple who had also seen the 1984 flow and they said there was no comparison.  This one was small kine.  Hilo is pretty safe for awhile.

That's my impression too. This is much less vigorous than the one in '84. Does that mean anything? I have no idea, but have wondered..

Does a higher elevation vent, the current vents are between 10 and 11,000 feet whereas the '84 vent was at 9,000 feet, mean there is less pressure behind the eruption, and less volume available to erupt? And as such does that mean a shorter event?

The only other initial impression is during the first hours of the '84 event, I was on the Saddle Road by 4am that first morning back then, was far more voluminous, and the fissures far longer, than this event.

And then, why has this eruption not migrated further? Because of the time between eruptions we might assume there's a phenomenal amount of magma built up in the volcano, exerting far more pressure, but is there? 

There's the whole question of whether Mauna Loa and Kilauea, who ultimately share the same source, work independently, or not? And, if they do have a sympathetic relationship, is the last few years of increases at Mauna Loa because of the pause at Kilauea, and the reason Mauna Loa remained inactive is because of Kilauea's activity, and as such the years didn't see as much magma get to Mauna Loa, until Kilauea stopped? If so then maybe the years don't directly correlate to the amount of magma accumulated..?

All's to say, there's no way of knowing (except in hindsight), but comparisons are fun.. and can be telling.. if we only knew enough to interpret them..

[dobanion]

Mirroring a lot of my thoughts. It's hard to compare volume output from an eruption you can see to one that you didn't but.........

Some of the descriptions of the BIG ones, with serious volume, seem to be at lower elevations. Also, radial vents. 1868 was by all descriptions, terrifiying in the volume. It also had a BIG earthquake that "uncapped" it, unlike this one which I think was just a flurry of 3-4s.

Also, 38 years.

Since I love postulating (and flat out wild ass guessing), I'll wager we get a long (months) but low intensity eruption.

[dobanion]

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE
U.S. Geological Survey
Wednesday, November 30, 2022, 9:08 AM HST (Wednesday, November 30, 2022, 19:08 UTC)


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

Activity Summary:

The Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa continues, with two active fissures feeding lava flows downslope. The fissure 3 lava flows are travelling to the northeast, though the direction shifted slightly westward overnight, still moving toward Saddle Road. Fissure 3 is the dominant source of the largest lava flow, and the flow front is about 3.6 miles (5.8 km) from Saddle Road as of 7 a.m. HST this morning. The flows have been advancing at a rate of 0.08 miles per hour (130 meters per hour) over the last day, but they are approaching a relatively flat area and will begin to slow down, spread out, and inflate. Forecasts indicate it may take two days for lava flows to reach Saddle Road.

Fissure 4 is still active with lava flows moving toward the northeast at 0.03 miles per hour (50 meters per hour). A small lobe is moving to the east from fissure 4 at a slower rate than the main lobe. Volcanic gas plumes are lofting high and vertically into the atmosphere. Pele's hair (strands of volcanic glass) is falling in the Saddle Road area.

Our seismic monitoring detects tremor (high rates of earthquakes) in the location of the currently active fissures. This indicates that magma is still being supplied, and activity is likely to continue as long as we see this signal.

There is no active lava within Moku'āweoweo caldera, and the Southwest Rift Zone is not erupting. We do not expect any eruptive activity outside the Northeast Rift Zone. No property is at risk currently.

[leilanidude]

Saddle Road closure plans. Looks like the DOT wants to ensure no lava viewing as their plan is to close the road between the 8.8 and 21 mile markers.

https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/202...ast-flank/

According to a map supplied by the DOT, the department plans to close the highway between the 8.8- and 21-mile markers — the former located just beyond Kaumana in Hilo and the latter a few miles east of the Maunakea Access Road — should lava continue to approach the road. Barricades would be erected at both points, which would be manned by both DOT personnel and law enforcement.

[terracore]

Did anyone else hear that? Like 2 minutes ago? It sounded like an earthquake but nothing shook. Social media 'exploding' with comments- looks like it was heard island wide.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/958195427537011