Unified Interior Regions

Friday, March 25, marked the tenth anniversary of the last eruption of Mauna Loa Volcano. The 1984 eruption followed a nine-year period of quiescence. Roughly three years of increasing frequency of shallow- and intermediate-depth earthquakes preceded the eruption.

Following the spectacular display of steam explosions and lava fountaining at the ocean entries last week, this week began with another pause in the eruption. By last Sunday morning, lava had stopped entering the ocean, and the lava tube upslope was drained and empty, although still brightly glowing.
 

Lava activity at the coast where the flows enter the ocean has been spectacular this past week. The activity has included high lava spattering and formation of three new cones along the ocean entries. On Friday, March 4, explosions began at the coast and intensified during the day. 

The 11-year-long eruption on Kīlauea's East Rift Zone took a brief pause on Thursday, but activity resumed within a matter of hours. 
 

The column last week summarized the types of damage to structures resulting from shaking during large earthquakes beneath Hawai‘i.

Over the last several weeks, we have run suggestions of specific things that you can do to reduce your exposure to damage caused by earthquakes. 

Lava from the 11-year long eruption along Kīlauea's East Rift Zone continues to pour into the ocean near Kamoamoa inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. 

The magnitude-5.2 earthquake that occurred at 12:02 a.m. Tuesday morning served as a not-so-gentle reminder of the seismic hazard on the Island of Hawai‘i. The quake was felt throughout the State, with reports from as far away as Kapa'a, Kaua‘i. 
 

Large, damaging earthquakes have occurred frequently in Hawai`i in the past and will occur again in the future, as we discussed last week. However, there is a great deal you can do to reduce your personal risk.
 

A magnitude-6.6 earthquake devastated the Northridge area of Los Angeles on Monday, January 17, at 4:31 a.m. The extent and type of damage in the Los Angeles region caused by an earthquake of this magnitude has been shocking. 

Editor's note: The following is part two of an 11-year retrospective look at Kīlauea Volcano - October 1992 through the end of 1993.