HVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice



Volcano: Mauna Loa (VNUM #332020)



Current Volcano Alert Level: WARNING

Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Previous Aviation Color Code: RED





Issued: Sunday, December 4, 2022, 8:10 AM HST

Source: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

Notice Number: 2022/H628

Location: N 19 deg 28 min W 155 deg 36 min

Elevation: 13681 ft (4170 m)

Area: Hawaii



Volcanic Activity Summary:

Lava eruption from fissure 3 on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa continues, but the threat to aviation of significant volcanic ash emission into the atmosphere has passed. For this reason, HVO is reducing the aviation color code from RED to ORANGE.   

The ground-based volcano alert level will remain at WARNING, reflecting the ongoing hazards of the fissure 3 lava flow. Lava flows are slowly moving north toward Daniel K. Inouye Highway and are spreading out and inflating (thickening) as they advance over low-sloping ground. The fronts of lava flows can break open unexpectedly, sending flows in several directions. Rain on lava creates steam and reduces visibility. If visiting the County of Hawai'i public viewing area, remain with your vehicle and do not approach the flows. 

The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a temporary flight restriction extending from the surface to 1500 feet (457 meters) above ground level in the eruption area. See: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_2_9210.html 

For more information about the meaning of aviation color codes, see https://www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/volcanic-alert-levels-characterize-conditions-us-volcanoes 



For discussion of Mauna Loa hazards, please see: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/hawaii_hazards.html and https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2012/3104/



Remarks:

The eruption has now focused at a single vent, fissure 3, at an elevation of 11,500 ft (3510 m) along the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. Lava fountaining at the vent has been approximately 100 feet (33 m) tall over the past day, depositing fragments of volcanic material in the area near the vent. Pele's hair (small strands of volcanic glass) are being wafted great distances and have been reported as far as Laupāhoehoe, a community on the northeast coastline of the Island of Hawai'i about 23 miles (37 km) north of Hilo and 37 mi (59 km) northwest of fissure 3.   

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rates of approximately 180,000 tonnes per day (t/d) were measured on December 1, 2022 and remain elevated at this time. Volcanic gas is rising high and vertically into the atmosphere before being blown to the west at high altitude, generating vog (volcanic air pollution) in areas downwind. The International Volcanic Health Hazard Network has detailed information about vog: https://vog.ivhhn.org/. Forecasts for the dispersion of vog can be found on the Vog Forecasting Dashboard: http://weather.hawaii.edu/vmap/new/ 

Fissure 3 is generating a lava flow traveling to the north toward the Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Saddle Road) that has reached flatter ground and slowed down significantly over the past several days, as expected. As of 7 a.m. today, December 4, the flow front was about 2.3 mi (3.6 km) from the Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Saddle Road). During the past 24 hours, the lava flow advanced at an average rate of about 40 feet per hour (12 meters per hour). Though the advance rate has slowed over the past several days, the lava flow remains active with a continuous supply from the fissure 3 vent.   

Advance rates may be highly variable over the coming days and weeks. On the flat ground between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, lava flows advance more slowly, spread out, and inflate. Individual lobes may advance quickly, and then stall. Additional breakouts may occur if lava channels get blocked upslope. There are many variables at play and both the direction and timing of flow advances are expected to change over periods of hours to days, making it difficult to estimate when or if the flow will impact Daniel K. Inouye Highway.   

Tremor (a signal associated with subsurface fluid movement) continues beneath the currently active fissures. This indicates that magma is still being supplied to the fissure, and activity is likely to continue as long as we see this signal.  

There is no active lava within Moku'āweoweo caldera nor the Southwest Rift Zone. We do not expect any eruptive activity outside the Northeast Rift Zone.   

Most recent eruption map:  https://www.usgs.gov/maps/december-3-2022-mauna-loa-eruption-map 

Information on lava viewing: https://www.khon2.com/local-news/mauna-loa-eruption/new-4-5-mile-route-opened-to-view-mauna-loa-eruption/ 

Volcanic Hazards:  

Air quality/volcanic gas plume (fissure eruption): High levels of volcanic gas, including sulfur dioxide (SO2), are emitted from the fissure vents. As SO2 is released from the eruption, it will react in the atmosphere with oxygen, sunlight, moisture, and other gases and particles and within hours to days, convert to fine particles downwind. The particles scatter sunlight and cause the visible haze, known as vog (volcanic air pollution, from “volcanic smog”). Vog creates the potential for airborne health hazards to residents and visitors, damages agricultural crops and other plants, and affects livestock operations.   

Lava flows: Hawaiian lava flows generally advance slowly enough that people can avoid them. They can destroy everything in their paths, including vegetation and infrastructure—which can cut off road access and utilities. Hazards associated with active or recent lava flows include hot and glassy (sharp) surfaces that can cause severe burns, abrasions, and lacerations upon contact with unprotected or exposed skin; uneven and rough terrain can lead to falls and other injuries; hot temperatures that can cause heat exhaustion or dehydration, or in heavy rain can produce steamy ground-fog that can be acidic, severely limiting visibility and sometimes causing difficulty breathing.   

Tephra fall:  Pele's hair and other lightweight volcanic glass fragments from lava fountains and spattering will fall downwind, dusting the ground within a few hundred meters (yards) of the vent. High winds may waft lighter particles and transport them greater distances downwind. Residents are urged to minimize exposure to these volcanic particles, which can cause skin and eye irritation similar to volcanic ash.   

Secondary hazards: Lava flow advance into vegetated areas may generate secondary hazards by igniting small fires in vegetation adjacent to lava flow margins. Lava flows that cover and burn vegetation and soil also introduce the hazard of subsurface natural gas pockets igniting, which can cause methane explosions. These explosions can blast lava fragments up to several meters (yards) away and can be hazardous to observers.  

Residents with questions about emergency response and resources that may be available to assist those at risk should consult https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/departments/civil-defense/active-civil-defense-alerts-and-maps.  

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park has closed the Mauna Loa Road from Kīpukapuaulu and the closure extends to the summit caldera; for more information please see https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm.  

Contacts:

askHVO@usgs.gov



Next Notice:

Updates on the status of Mauna Loa activity will be posted on the HVO web site in the morning and afternoon at: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/volcano-updates 

You can receive these updates via email by subscribing to the free Volcano Notification Service at: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vns/. Questions can be emailed to askHVO@usgs.gov. 

More Information:

• Mauna Loa activity summary also available by phone: (808) 967-8866
• Mauna Loa webcam images: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/webcams
• Mauna Loa photos/video: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/photo-and-video-chronology-mauna-loa
• Mauna Loa maps: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/maps
• Mauna Loa FAQs: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/frequently-asked-questions-about-mauna-loa-volcano
• Recent Volcano Watch on Mauna Loa: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/news/volcano-watch-mauna-loa-reawakens-0
• Map-based webpage for Mauna Loa: https://geonarrative.usgs.gov/maunaloa/       
• Additional Mauna Loa Resources: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/prepare-mauna-loa-resources

Subscribe to these messages: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vns2/

Summary of volcanic hazards from eruptions: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/hazards

Recent earthquakes in Hawaiʻi (map and list): https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo

Explanation of Volcano Alert Levels and Aviation Color Codes: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/volcanic-alert-levels-characterize-conditions-us-volcanoes