The Mauna Loa Explodes - Essay Example

The paper "The Mauna Loa Explodes" is an excellent example of an essay on environmental studies. Pangaea, MA: On Tuesday, June 15th, 2015 the Mauna Loa ended its 9 years period of quiescence. This recent eruption began suddenly after a 3 year period of gradually increasing earthquake activities underneath the volcano. When the earthquake reached a maximum frequency of about 6.6 magnitudes, the earthquake took place beneath the southeast flank of the Mauna Loa. A series of repeated EDM and tilt measurements have indicated that the summit area of the volcano began to inflate shortly after the eruption of the summit six years ago in July 2009. The inflation in the volcano has increased substantially to the time of the eruption. The precursor to the eruption, several events were observed including an abrupt increase in the small earthquakes and volcanic tremors in the watch stations near Moku`aweoweo. At 08:45 p.m. on May 16, small earthquakes began at a rate of 2-3 per minute. By 09:30 p.m., the seismic background increased, marking the onset of tremor. Just before 1:00 a.m. on May 17, the tremor amplitude increased to the point that the astronomical telescopes on Mauna Kea, 42 km to the northwest, could not be stabilized because of the constant ground vibration. Military satellites recorded fissure eruption on the lower altitude zones of the rift on June 25, 2011, which then spread over to the vent forming new fountains of lava eruption. A major vent eruption was recorded on December 15, 2012, which then increased in frequency until the ultimate eruption on Tuesday, June 15th, 2015. The National Geological Society issued the initial warning to the communities living within a 100 km buffer to the Mauna Loa to consider moving in order to prevent loss of lives and the government and the Red Cross Society has been helping to move the people to safer regions. The ultimate eruption on Tuesday, June 15th, 2015 covered an estimated area of 2000 square kilometers with lava and people are advised to keep of this region until the National Geological Society has declared the area safe.