Mauna Loa is the world’s largest active volcano when measured from the ocean floor to its peak, and scientists have warned that it is due to erupt.
Situated in Hawaii, Mauna Loa is one of Earth’s most substantial volcanoes by volume and area, spanning approximately 2,035 square miles and ascending about 13,681 feet above sea level. Its total volume is believed to be around 18,000 cubic miles.
The volcano sits on Big Island and its latest eruption occurred in November-December 2022, but the question of when it’ll go off next is a little more ambiguous.
Although Mauna Loa is active and will erupt again in the future, there is no immediate threat. The volcano’s alert level is currently normal, with no signs of activity visible on webcams.
However, a slight increase in seismic activity was noted in late October 2023, indicating that the volcano remains active.
On average, Mauna Loa erupts once every five years and has erupted 34 times since 1843. Eruptions typically begin in the summit caldera before moving to a rift zone.
Eruptions can result in lava flows, earthquakes, volcanic gas emissions, and ashfall. Mauna Loa is classified as a shield volcano, indicating that its eruptions are typically mild and extended, rather than violent.
The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) keeps a close eye on Mauna Loa using an array of tools, including seismometers, tiltmeters, GPS receivers, gas sensors, webcams, thermal cameras, and time-lapse cameras.
The Yellowstone Caldera poses a greater risk than Mauna Loa, however, it’s not anticipated to erupt for thousands or even tens of thousands of years.
The supervolcano, located in Wyoming, spans about 30 miles across. Despite having a significant magma volume beneath it, its surface area is smaller than that of Mauna Loa. The caldera itself measures about 1,500 square miles.
While Mauna Loa surpasses in terms of volume and height, Yellowstone is renowned for its size as a caldera but does not match the massiveness of Mauna Loa.
