09-19-2015, 07:30 AM
Mauna Loa has had several of these episodes of enhanced activity since 1984. I'm not going to worry about it unless the earthquake activity increases. You have to live life to the fullest. If you start worrying about "what ifs", its certainly not healthy and waste of emotional energy.
Not to say "worry" is the right approach, but I suspect having too casual of an attitude isn't either. I would not be lulled into thinking that the USGS will always be able to provide extended warnings. Mauna Loa's history is incredible, and even the 1984 eruption took the scientists at HVO by surprise. Sheesh when the eruption started they had no idea it was imminent, and in fact were all at a party and most of them well into their umpteenth drink when they realized it had.
Statistically Mauna Loa is a giant. HVO writes of the 1950 eruption, which if it were to occur today would destroy 100's of homes if not trap and possibly harm their inhabitants, in part as such:
The 1950 eruption lasted for 23 days. In that time it erupted 376 million cubic meters of lava, the largest outpouring of lava from the southwest rift zone of Mauna Loa since written records have been kept. This is equivalent to about 3.5-4 year's output for the ongoing Pu`u `O`o-Kupaianaha eruption of Kilauea. This comparison illustrates how much larger eruptions of Mauna Loa can be compared with those of Kilauea.
Flows from this eruption made their way to the sea in a hurry. For example, the Honokua flow covered the 24-km (15-mile) journey, from vent to the ocean, in less than 3 hours. When an eruption ensues along the southwest rift zone of Mauna Loa, things can happen quickly.
More can be read about the 1950 eruption here:
http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/maunaloa/history/50_06_01/
Sorry 'bout the off topic detour. Yeah the TMT debacle has financial consequence, but OMG a Mauna Loa eruption, especially from the Southwest Rift will make it seem like chump change. Then we'll really see how screwed up our county/state land use policies are!
Carry on.
Not to say "worry" is the right approach, but I suspect having too casual of an attitude isn't either. I would not be lulled into thinking that the USGS will always be able to provide extended warnings. Mauna Loa's history is incredible, and even the 1984 eruption took the scientists at HVO by surprise. Sheesh when the eruption started they had no idea it was imminent, and in fact were all at a party and most of them well into their umpteenth drink when they realized it had.
Statistically Mauna Loa is a giant. HVO writes of the 1950 eruption, which if it were to occur today would destroy 100's of homes if not trap and possibly harm their inhabitants, in part as such:
The 1950 eruption lasted for 23 days. In that time it erupted 376 million cubic meters of lava, the largest outpouring of lava from the southwest rift zone of Mauna Loa since written records have been kept. This is equivalent to about 3.5-4 year's output for the ongoing Pu`u `O`o-Kupaianaha eruption of Kilauea. This comparison illustrates how much larger eruptions of Mauna Loa can be compared with those of Kilauea.
Flows from this eruption made their way to the sea in a hurry. For example, the Honokua flow covered the 24-km (15-mile) journey, from vent to the ocean, in less than 3 hours. When an eruption ensues along the southwest rift zone of Mauna Loa, things can happen quickly.
More can be read about the 1950 eruption here:
http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/maunaloa/history/50_06_01/
Sorry 'bout the off topic detour. Yeah the TMT debacle has financial consequence, but OMG a Mauna Loa eruption, especially from the Southwest Rift will make it seem like chump change. Then we'll really see how screwed up our county/state land use policies are!
Carry on.