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Map of post-1823 lava flows erupted from Mauna Loa

January 1, 2018

 

Map of post-1823 lava flows erupted from Mauna Loa (gray) and numbe...
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Slope map of Mauna Loa, including lava flows erupted since 1823 (gray), showing the approximate number of hours or days it took for a flow to advance from the vent location to the ocean or maximum reach of a flow. One flow that moved down the steep slopes on west flank of Mauna Loa reached the ocean in as little as 3 hours after the vent started erupting in 1950. The bold numbers (for example, 12Mm3/d) are the average rates of lava effusion (outpouring of lava) in millions of cubic meters per day. Note the west flank has the steepest slopes (red-orange areas), shortest distance from vent to the ocean, and the highest average rate of effusion during eruptions, resulting in precious little time for warning residents during an eruption from the Southwest Rift Zone of Mauna Loa.

Citation Information

Title Map of post-1823 lava flows erupted from Mauna Loa
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse