07-13-2019, 04:39 AM
I don't think that continued deformation on the Kilauea south flank is at all unusual after an earthquake - the movement of that region after the 1975 event continued for decades. The big difference now is that we have the technology to monitor the motion in near real time.
We're in a similar situation with Mauna Loa as well: aside from annual precise leveling surveys and laser ranging distance measurements (inflation) across the summit, there was very little data being gathered on the mountain prior to the 1975 eruption; HVO had one (recording) seismometer on the north flank at the time, and that one got covered by a lava flow. We have a much broader and more detailed data set today, but very sparse historical data to compare it to...
We're in a similar situation with Mauna Loa as well: aside from annual precise leveling surveys and laser ranging distance measurements (inflation) across the summit, there was very little data being gathered on the mountain prior to the 1975 eruption; HVO had one (recording) seismometer on the north flank at the time, and that one got covered by a lava flow. We have a much broader and more detailed data set today, but very sparse historical data to compare it to...