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Mauna Loa

Shield volcano · United States · 4170m

The low-angle flanks of Mauna Loa rise nearly 9 km from the sea floor. The elongated profile was created by repeated eruptions of thin lava flows, primarily from fissure vents along NE- and SW-trending rift zones. Almost 90% of the surface consists of lava flows less than 4,000 years old.
The low-angle flanks of Mauna Loa rise nearly 9 km from the sea floor. The elongated profile was created by repeated eruptions of thin lava flows, primarily from fissure vents along NE- and SW-trending rift zones. Almost 90% of the surface consists of lava flows less than 4,000 years old. · Photo: Photo by Richard Fiske (Smithsonian Institution). · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Shield volcano
Country
United States
Region
Eastern Pacific Volcanic Regions / Hawaiian-Emperor Hotspot Volcano Group
Elevation
4170m
Coordinates
19.475, -155.608
Last eruption
2022
Tectonic setting
Intraplate / Oceanic crust (< 15 km)
Landform
Shield
Major rock type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Geological summary

Massive Mauna Loa is a basaltic shield volcano that rises almost 9 km from the ocean floor to form the world's largest Holocene volcano. Flank eruptions typically occur from the lengthy NE and SW rift zones, and from the Moku'aweoweo summit is caldera, which is within an older and larger 6 x 8 km caldera. Two of the youngest large debris avalanches documented in Hawaii traveled nearly 100 km from Mauna Loa; the second of the Alika avalanches was emplaced about 105,000 years ago (Moore et al., 1989). Almost 90% of the surface of the volcano is covered by lavas less than 4,000 years old (Lockwood and Lipman, 1987). Beginning about 1,500 years ago, a series of voluminous overflows from a summit lava lake covered about 25% of the volcano's surface. Over the last 750 years, from shortly after the formation of Moku'aweoweo caldera until the present, an additional 25% of the volcano has been covered with lava flows, mainly from summit and NW rift zone vents.

From Wikipedia

Mauna Loa is one of five volcanoes that form the Island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. Mauna Loa is Earth's largest active volcano by both mass and volume. It was historically considered to be the largest volcano on Earth until the submarine mountain Tamu Massif was discovered to be larger. Mauna Loa is a shield volcano with relatively gentle slopes, and a volume estimated at 18,000 cubic miles (75,000 km3), although its peak is about 125 feet (38 m) lower than that of its neighbor, Mauna Kea. Lava eruptions from Mauna Loa are silica-poor and very fluid, and tend to be non-explosive.

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Eruption history

Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions
8050 BCE~7714 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI 07714 BCE~7379 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 07379 BCE~7043 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI 06707 BCE~6371 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI 06371 BCE~6036 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 06036 BCE~5700 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 05700 BCE~5364 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 05364 BCE~5028 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 04357 BCE~4021 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 04021 BCE~3685 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 03685 BCE~3350 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 03350 BCE~3014 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 03014 BCE~2678 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 02678 BCE~2343 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 02343 BCE~2007 BCE · 3 eruptions · max VEI 02007 BCE~1671 BCE · 5 eruptions · max VEI 01671 BCE~1335 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 01335 BCE~1000 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 01000 BCE~664 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 0664 BCE~328 BCE · 3 eruptions · max VEI 0328 BCE~8 · 5 eruptions · max VEI 08~343 · 5 eruptions · max VEI 0343~679 · 6 eruptions · max VEI 0679~1015 · 4 eruptions · max VEI 01015~1351 · 6 eruptions · max VEI 01351~1686 · 12 eruptions · max VEI 01686~2022 · 42 eruptions · max VEI 28050 BCE5700 BCE3014 BCE664 BCE1686

Detailed timeline

  1. 2022VEI 0Observed
    2022-11-27 – 2022-12-10
    Moku‘aweoweo, Northeast Rift Zone
  2. 1984VEI 0Observed
    1984-03-25 – 1984-04-15
    Moku'aweoweo, SW and NE rift zones
  3. 1975VEI 0Observed
    1975-07-05 – 1975-07-06
    Mokuaweoweo and NE and SW rift zones,
  4. 1950VEI 0Observed
    1950-06-01 – 1950-06-23
    SW rift zone (2440 m)
  5. 1949VEI 0Observed
    1949-01-06 – 1949-05-31
    Mokuaweoweo and SW rift zone
  6. 1942VEI 0Observed
    1942-04-26 – 1942-05-10
    NE rift zone (2800 m) and Mokuaweoweo
  7. 1940VEI 0Observed
    1940-04-07 – 1940-08-18
    Mokuaweoweo and SW rift zone
  8. 1935VEI 0Observed
    1935-11-21 – 1936-01-02
    NE rift zone (3690 m) and Mokuaweoweo
  9. 1933VEI 0Observed
    1933-12-02 – 1933-12-18
    Mokuaweoweo
  10. 1926VEI 0Observed
    1926-04-10 – 1926-04-28
    SW rift (2320 m)
  11. 1919VEI 0Observed
    1919-09-26 – 1919-11-05
    SW rift zone (3450 and 2350 m)
  12. 1916VEI 0Observed
    1916-05-19 – 1916-05-30
    SW rift zone (3000 and 2250 m)
  13. 1914VEI 0Observed
    1914-11-25 – 1915-01-11
    Mokuaweoweo
  14. 1907VEI 0Observed
    1907-01-09 – 1907-01-24
    SW rift zone (1890 m) and Mokuaweoweo
  15. 1903VEI 0Observed
    1903-09-01 – 1903-12-07
    Mokuaweoweo
  16. 1899VEI 1Observed
    1899-07-01 – 1899-07-23
    NE rift zone (3260 m) and Mokuaweoweo
  17. 1896VEI 0Observed
    1896-04-21 – 1896-05-06
    Mokuaweoweo
  18. 1892VEI 0Observed
    1892-11-30 – 1892-12-03
    Mokuaweoweo
  19. 1887VEI 0Observed
    1887-01-16 – 1887-01-28
    SW rift zone (1740 m) and Mokuaweoweo
  20. 1880VEI 1Observed
    1880-05-01 – 1880-05-06
    Mokuaweoweo
  21. 1880VEI 1Observed
    1880-11-05 – 1881-08-10
    NE rift zone (3170 m)
  22. 1879VEI 0Observed
    1879-03-09 – 1879-03-09
    Mokuaweoweo
  23. 1877VEI 0Observed
    1877-02-14 – 1877-02-24
    Mokuaweoweo, submarine west flank
  24. 1876VEI 0Observed
    1876-02-13 – 1876-02-14
    Mokuaweoweo
  25. 1875VEI 0Observed
    1875-01-10 – 1875-02-09
    Mokuaweoweo
  26. 1875VEI 0Observed
    1875-08-11 – 1875-08-18
    Mokuaweoweo
  27. 1873VEI 0Observed
    1873-01-06 – 1873-01-07
    Mokuaweoweo
  28. 1873VEI 1Observed
    1873-04-20 – 1874-10-19
    Mokuaweoweo
  29. 1872VEI 1Observed
    1872-08-09 – 1872-09
    Mokuaweoweo
  30. 1871VEI 0Observed
    1871-08-10 – 1871-08-30
    Mokuaweoweo
  31. 1870VEI 0Geological estimate
    1870-01-01 – 1870-01-15
    Mokuaweoweo
  32. 1868VEI 2Observed
    1868-03-27 – 1868-04-22
    SW rift zone (1000 m) and Mokuaweoweo
  33. 1865VEI 0Observed
    1865-12-30 – 1866-04-29
    Mokuaweoweo
  34. 1859VEI 1Observed
    1859-01-23 – 1859-11-25
    North flank (2800 m) and Mokuaweoweo
  35. 1855VEI 1Observed
    1855-08-11 – 1856-11
    NE rift zone (3200 m) and Mokuaweoweo
  36. 1852VEI 2Observed
    1852-02-17 – 1852-03-11
    NE rift zone (2560 m) and Mokuaweoweo
  37. 1851VEI 0Observed
    1851-08-08 – 1851-08-11
    Mokuaweoweo and SW rift zone
  38. 1849VEI 0Observed
    1849-05 – Ongoing
    Mokuaweoweo
  39. 1843VEI 0Observed
    1843-01-09 – 1843-04-10
    North flank, Mokuaweoweo and NE rift
  40. 1832VEI 0Observed
    1832-06-20 – 1832-07-15
    Mokuaweoweo and adjacent vents
  41. 1750VEI 0Observed
    1750 – Ongoing
    North flank (2380 m) and SW rift zone?
  42. 1730VEI 0Geological estimate
    1730 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  43. 1685VEI 0Geological estimate
    1685 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  44. 1680VEI 0Geological estimate
    1680 – Ongoing
    NW flank
  45. 1650VEI 0Geological estimate
    1650 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  46. 1640VEI 0Geological estimate
    1640 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  47. 1540VEI 0Geological estimate
    1540 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  48. 1510VEI 0Geological estimate
    1510 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  49. 1500VEI 0Geological estimate
    1500 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  50. 1470VEI 0Geological estimate
    1470 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  51. 1440VEI 0Geological estimate
    1440 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone and NW flank
  52. 1390VEI 0Geological estimate
    1390 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  53. 1370VEI 0Geological estimate
    1370 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone and Mokuaweoweo
  54. 1360VEI 0Geological estimate
    1360 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  55. 1310VEI 0Geological estimate
    1310 – Ongoing
    SW rift zone
  56. 1190VEI 0Geological estimate
    1190 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone and Mokuaweoweo
  57. 1170VEI 0Geological estimate
    1170 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  58. 1130VEI 0Geological estimate
    1130 – Ongoing
    SW rift zone
  59. 1070VEI 0Geological estimate
    1070 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  60. 1040VEI 0Geological estimate
    1040 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  61. 940VEI 0Geological estimate
    940 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  62. 830VEI 0Geological estimate
    830 – Ongoing
    Mokuaweoweo and NW flank
  63. 810VEI 0Geological estimate
    810 – Ongoing
    Mokuaweoweo
  64. 680VEI 0Geological estimate
    680 – Ongoing
    Mokuaweoweo
  65. 630VEI 0Geological estimate
    630 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  66. 600VEI 0Geological estimate
    600 – Ongoing
    Mokuaweoweo
  67. 550VEI 0Geological estimate
    550 – Ongoing
    Mokuaweoweo
  68. 480VEI 0Geological estimate
    480 – Ongoing
    Mokuaweoweo
  69. 450VEI 0Geological estimate
    450 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  70. 350VEI 0Geological estimate
    350 – Ongoing
    Mokuaweoweo
  71. 300VEI 0Geological estimate
    300 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  72. 200VEI 0Geological estimate
    200 – Ongoing
    Mokuaweoweo
  73. 150VEI 0Geological estimate
    150 – Ongoing
    SE rift zone
  74. 100VEI 0Geological estimate
    100 – Ongoing
    SE rift zone
  75. 50VEI 0Geological estimate
    50 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  76. 30 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 30 – Ongoing
    NE and SW rift zones
  77. 60 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 60 – Ongoing
    Mokuaweoweo
  78. 80 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 80 – Ongoing
    SE rift zone
  79. 200 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 200 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  80. 300 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 300 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  81. 400 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 400 – Ongoing
    SW rift zone
  82. 500 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 500 – Ongoing
    SW rift zone
  83. 600 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 600 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  84. 950 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 950 – Ongoing
    Mokuaweoweo
  85. 1300 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 1300 – Ongoing
    Mokuaweoweo and NE rift zone
  86. 1650 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 1650 – Ongoing
    NE and SW rift zones
  87. 1700 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 1700 – Ongoing
    SW rift zone
  88. 1750 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 1750 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  89. 1800 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 1800 – Ongoing
    NW and SW rift zones
  90. 1900 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 1900 – Ongoing
    SW rift zone
  91. 2000 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 2000 – Ongoing
    SW rift zone
  92. 2050 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 2050 – Ongoing
    Mokuaweoweo
  93. 2150 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 2150 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  94. 2250 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 2250 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  95. 2350 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 2350 – Ongoing
    Mokuaweoweo
  96. 2750 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 2750 – Ongoing
    NE and SW rift zones
  97. 3250 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 3250 – Ongoing
    SW rift zone
  98. 3350 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 3350 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  99. 3750 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 3750 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  100. 4250 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 4250 – Ongoing
    SW rift zone
  101. 5350 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 5350 – Ongoing
    SW rift zone
  102. 5650 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 5650 – Ongoing
    SW rift zone
  103. 5850 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 5850 – Ongoing
    NE and SW rift zones
  104. 6250 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 6250 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  105. 6550 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 6550 – Ongoing
    Mokuaweoweo
  106. 6650 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 6650 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  107. 7150 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 7150 – Ongoing
    NE and SW rift zones
  108. 7350 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 7350 – Ongoing
    SW rift zone
  109. 7550 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 7550 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  110. 7850 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 7850 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone
  111. 8050 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 8050 – Ongoing
    NE rift zone

External links

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