World’s Largest Volcano awake after 38 year slumber

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#Hawaii, November 29, 2022 – Authorities in Hawaii are closely monitoring, so far, a small eruption from the world’s biggest volcano, The Mauna Loa situated on Hawaii’s Big Island.  The Mauna Loa has not erupted since 1984, but Monday, November 28th the, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory released a statement advising that an eruption began around 11:30 Sunday night.

“At this time, the eruption is limited to the summit area and is NOT threatening communities downhill— The Observatory has increased the Volcano Alert Level from “advisory” to “warning,” with aviation alert upgraded to “red.”  Some ash and volcanic glass fibers may become airborne and blow downwind,” the HVO said

According to the United States Geological Survey, under whose purview Hawaii falls, a Mauna Loa eruption could be very destructive.

It explained that all historically recorded Mauna Loa eruptions started in the summit area, like this one, but only about half have stayed in the summit.  On at least seven occasions flows from the volcano reached the ocean along the west coast of Hawaii within a matter of hours.

The volcano is known to produce copious amounts of fast-moving lava, potentially large and destructive earthquakes, volcanic gas and explosive eruptions.

In the last eruption in 1984, the volcanic smog was so far-reaching it covered nearly all of Hawaii.  Hawaii sits on the Ring of Fire like Indonesia and Japan, a volcanic belt in the pacific ocean which produces more seismic and volcanic activity than any other area in the world.