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http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/04/15/...Q98MbBA76g
April 15, 2019 at 5:06 AM HST - Updated April 15 at 6:25 AM
HILO, Hawaii (AP) - Scientists in Hawaii are monitoring increasing activity surrounding one of the Big Island's volcanoes.
The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported Sunday that The Hawaii Volcano Observatory is closely monitoring Mauna Loa as conditions have risen to levels comparable to a more active period between 2014 and 2017.
Officials say it is too early to predict possible outcomes.
Officials say there have been increased earthquakes and ground deformation around Mauna Loa's summit.
Officials say earthquakes on Mauna Loa dropped to less than five per week in early 2018, but there have been up to 90 earthquakes weekly since August, with most considered mild at 2.0 or less on the Richter scale.
An eruption last year by Hawaii's Kilauea volcano destroyed more than 700 homes from May through August.
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On the one hand you'd think the rift zone widening would suck up all the spare lava for years to come, forestalling an eruption of Kilauea or Mauna Loa.
On the other, there might as well be infinite lava below the crust, and any number of shifts that could increase the pressure causing it to surface.
I wonder if the earthquake on Kona side was a sign the island is settling, applying more pressure to the lava underneath.
Let's all hope for a nice lava pool in the National Park to attract the tourists, and no flows!
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This article has been posted here before. If Kilauea is pau it could mean it's time for Mauna Loa to awaken:
"The past decade of eruptions of Hawaii's Kilauea volcano may have acted as a pressure-relief valve for neighboring Mauna Loa, according to a new model suggesting two of the planet's biggest volcanoes connect deep underground."
https://www.livescience.com/24262-kilaue...inked.html
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When Mauna Loa last went off in 1984, Kilauea was in her fountaining phase, shooting up to 1500 feet every 28-29 days. Seeing both erupting at the same time from our yard in the back of OLE made for a chicken-skin evening.
Also of interest - there was a photo on the front page of the Hilo Tribune that showed a tongue of lava from Mauna Loa heading towards Hilo, and Pele's face in the smoke clouds above. It caused quite a stir at the time.
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The 5.3 quake last week wasn’t caused by magma moving, according to HVO:
Scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said Saturday’s 5.3-magnitude earthquake on the Big Island was not caused by magma moving underground.
Geophysicist Brian Shiro said the quake was located at a depth about 15 kilometers far deeper than a quake that might be caused by moving magma.The strength of the quake and multiple aftershocks led some to fear moving lava may be nearing the surface and possibly erupt from Mauna Loa. But the scientists say the quake was due to movement of the crust under the Big Island.
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/04/15/...derground/
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How much do the paid ( 25 people) ... According to their web site get paid to say words like " might be" not counting the volunteers.
https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories...about.html
In my opinion the island "might be" made of ice cream and it's melting.
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Alaskyn - that's harsh. Unless you have a method to get scientists down to a depth of 15 km in solid rock then they are always having to interpret the data they have. Secondly, the "might be" comment is completely valid. You can have shallower earthquakes that are not caused by magma movement. In any case, it seems they are pretty sure the earthquake was caused by crustal movement.
In addition, when you read a media article like this, please remember that you are reading what the journalist wrote. Unless they are providing a direct quote, you are reading the journalist's words which may not be what the scientists said. It happens much more often than you might realize.
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I have nothing but respect for people who study the earth sciences.. but why not be truthful and say, 'we dont know why it does that, we cant see down there.'
Someday after we get done inventing technology to kill each other, perhaps they will focus on such things as how the planet works.. or why it works.
Until then words like might,could be etc.. sound silly.
..as an afterthought you could be right Tom on how the press translates statements.
