Essay About Mauna Loas Latest Activity And Kilaueas Latest Eruption

Volcano
Essay Preview: Volcano
Report this essay
Viewing an erupting volcano is a memorable experience; one that has inspired
fear, superstition, worship, curiosity, and fascination throughout the history of
mankind. The active Hawaiian volcanoes have received special attention
worldwide because of their frequent spectacular eruptions, which can be viewed
and studied with a relative ease and safety. The island of Hawaii is composed of
five volcanoes, three of which have been active within the past two hundred years.
Kilaueas latest eruption still continues as of today. Mauna Loas latest activity
was in 1984 and Hualalais in 1800-1801, but is likely to erupt again within the
next one hundred years. East Maui, or Haleakala, one of the oldest volcanoes,
has a long eruptive history and recent activity indicates that the volcano will erupt
in the near future. Last but not least, the Loihi Seamount, sometimes known as
the “youngest volcano” is an undersea mountain this is still active. Scientists now
believe that the hot spots lie in the ocean, deep beneath the volcanoes. These
hot spots spew out of molten rock that rises to the waters surface and hardens.
After doing this for a long time, the hardened lava forms an island, like the
Hawaiian islands (Volcanoes Online).
The Kilauea volcano is one of the most active volcanoes on earth. Its current
eruption started in January 1983, and there is no signs that the current eruption is
slowing or will come to an end anytime soon. The U.S. Geological Observatory
monitors the daily activities of the volcano, for example-movement of lava flows,
earthquakes, surface deformation, and gas production. Kilauea has been
monitored ever since, making it one of the better-studied volcanoes. Still there is
much we dont understand about the inner workings of this volcano. Unlike most
other volcanoes though, Kilauea is approachable. It has been called the “drive up”
volcano because of the ease of access to many of its volcanic activity. On
February 24, 2000, an article came out, which was entitled Breakouts result from
tube blockages. It stated:
The intrusion of magma into the upper east rift zone of Kilauea on February 23
caused minor but noticeable changes in the opening eruption. Lava continued to
enter the tube system at PuuOo, but blockages in the tube above the pali
resulted in many breakouts on the active flow field. (Hawaii Center for
Vocanology)
Kilauea shares the hot spot with its larger active sibling Mauna Loa, and with the
Loihi Seamount.
Mauna Loa or “Long Mountain” is the largest active volcano in the world. In fact it
is one of the tallest mountains in the world. The Mauna Loa and other active
volcanoes on the island have tended to erupt on an average of every two to three
years, placing them among the most frequently active volcanoes in the world.
Mauna Loa like all the volcanoes in Hawaii are called shield volcanoes. This
means it is a gently sloping mountain produced from a large number of generally
very fluid lava flows. The volcano has been erupting for at least one hundred
thousand years, possibly more, from a primary volcanic center at the mountain
summit (The Knowledge Adventure Homepage). Hualailai is the third youngest
and third most historically active volcano on the island of Hawaii. Though Hualalai
is not nearly as active as Mauna Loa or Kilauea, our recent geologic mapping of
the volcano shows that eighty- percent of Hualalais surface has been covered by
lava flows in the past five thousand years. Hualailai is considered a potentially
dangerous volcano that is likely to erupt again in the next one hundred years.
When asked about the Hawaiian volcanoes, most people imagine the big island
and its eruption at Kilauea or Mauna Loa volcanoes. But East Maui, or Halekala,
has witnessed eruptions in the past ten thousand years. Thus, the volcanoes
long eruptive history and recent activity indicate the East Maui will erupt in the
near future (Hawaii Center for Volcano logy).
Loihi Seamount, sometimes known as the “youngest volcano” in the