The new year is just around the corner, so it’s time to remind everyone that January is Volcano Awareness Month on the Big Island.
Volcano Awareness Month was established by mayoral proclamation in 2010. Each January since, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists have offered various talks — a total of 68 to date — at venues around the island to keep residents and visitors informed about Hawaiian volcanoes.
January was selected as the official Volcano Awareness Month mainly because Kilauea’s ongoing East Rift Zone (Pu‘u ‘O‘o) eruption began Jan. 3, 1983. But with two of the world’s most active volcanoes — one erupting nearly nonstop for more than three decades (Kilauea) and the other stirring for more than a year (Mauna Loa) — the need for volcano awareness on Hawaii Island is not limited to only one month.
It’s a year-round concern.
In addition to the 34th anniversary of Kilauea Volcano’s current East Rift Zone eruption, January 2017 marks the 110th anniversary of a notable Mauna Loa lava flow. The two-week eruption began Jan. 10, 1907, at the summit of Mauna Loa but soon migrated down the volcano’s Southwest Rift Zone. From there, lava advanced downslope and crossed the government road (predecessor of Highway 11) in two places.
It was the first of four 20th century Mauna Loa Southwest Rift Zone eruptions that sent lava flows across the main circle-island road, blocking traffic and severing communication lines (the others were in 1919, 1926 and 1950).
These present and past Kilauea and Mauna Loa eruptions are reminders of why it’s important to understand how Hawaiian volcanoes work and the hazards associated with them. With that in mind, HVO, in cooperation with Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the University of Hawaii at Hilo, will offer a series of volcano awareness talks this coming January.
Details about these presentations, including dates, times, locations and brief descriptions, are posted on HVO’s website (http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov). You also can email askHVO@usgs.gov or call (808) 967-8844 for more information.
For now, an overview of the January schedule follows.
Weekly “After Dark in the Park” programs in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park begin Jan. 3 with a review of Kilauea’s ongoing East Rift Zone and summit eruptions during the past year. The next four Tuesday evening programs (Jan. 10, 17, 24 and 31) include a talk about “listening” to Kilauea, the story of Halema‘uma‘u Crater’s 200-year-long history, a look at the tools and techniques used by HVO geologists to track lava and an update on the current status of Mauna Loa, respectively. Each presentation begins at 7 p.m. in the Kilauea Visitor Center (park entrance fees apply).
Two Thursday evening programs will be hosted on the main campus of UH-Hilo in University Classroom Building Room 100. On Jan. 5, a review of Kilauea’s eruptions during the past year (a repeat of the Jan. 3 park program) will be presented. The Jan. 19 talk addresses earthquakes in Hawaii, why they happen and what they tell us about volcanic eruptions. Both talks begin at 7 p.m.
A North Hawaii presentation Wednesday, Jan. 18, focuses on volcanic air pollution (vog) — its origin and impacts as well as new resources for living with vog in Hawaii. This talk will be hosted in the Gates Performing Arts Center on the Hawaii Preparatory Academy campus in Waimea starting at 6:30 p.m.
In West Hawaii, an overview of Mauna Loa, Hualalai and Kilauea volcanoes will be presented Wednesday, Jan. 25, in the Konawaena Elementary School cafeteria in Kealakekua. It begins at 6:30 p.m.
The West Hawaii talk will be repeated Jan. 30 and Feb. 2 at Lyman Museum in Hilo. The museum also is hosting a presentation on geologic features along the saddle between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea on Jan. 12 and 16. Details are now posted on HVO’s website (or visit http://lymanmuseum.org later this month).
Volcano Awareness Month talks are open to the public and no reservations are required.
Join us in January to learn more about the volcanoes on which you live and to meet some of the HVO scientists who monitor and study them.
Until then, safe and happy holidays.
Volcano activity updates
Kilauea continues to erupt at its summit and East Rift Zone. This past week, the summit lava lake level varied between about 12.5 and 32 m (41 and 105 ft) below the vent rim. The 61g lava flow continued to enter the ocean near Kamokuna. The breakout from the 61g vent area on the flank of Pu‘u ‘O‘o remained active, with a small surface flow slowly advancing to the east. The 61g lava flows do not pose an immediate threat to nearby communities.
Mauna Loa is not erupting. During the past week, small (less than magnitude-3) earthquakes occurred primarily at the summit and upper Southwest Rift Zone at depths less than 5 km (3 mi) and on the volcano’s east flank at depths of 5 to 13 km (3 to 8 mi). Deformation related to inflation of a magma reservoir beneath the summit and upper Southwest Rift Zone continued.
No earthquakes were reported felt on the Big Island this past week.
Visit the HVO website (http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov) for past Volcano Watch articles, Kilauea daily eruption updates, Mauna Loa weekly updates, volcano photos, recent earthquakes info, and more; call for summary updates at 808-967-8862 (Kilauea) or 808-967-8866 (Mauna Loa); email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.
Volcano Watch (http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch/) is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists.
