What does the Mauna Loa eruption bring to science? A specialist’s view

After the eruption of the largest active volcano in the world, experts around the world focused their attention on the development of this phenomenon. In the middle of this scenario, a volcanologist familiar with the territory detailed the opportunities it could generate for humanity. These were their conclusions.

Last Sunday, Hawaii was the site of a historic event for the scientific community: for the first time in 38 years, the largest active volcano in the world, Mauna Loa, erupted.

This event had not occurred since 1984 and despite the fact that it culminates at 4,169 meters, the local authorities of the United States Geological Survey They reported that, so far, there was no risk that the lava could reach the local community.

Although Mauna Loa is recognized primarily for its size, it has also become a phenomenon of study for scientists, to the point that according to information collected by Atlantic the surrounding surfaces were used to simulate what it would be like to transit through the soils of Mars.

This is just one of the reasons why its recent eruption opens the door for researchers to analyze other aspects that could be useful for the development of humanity.

Mauna Loa: a special appearance

in conversation with the aforementioned medium Volcanologist Jess Phoenix, who knows the volcano first-hand, as it was the first she worked on as a volunteer, explained why this event is more relevant than other eruptions.

As he stated, it “defies the visual stereotypes we all carry in our heads, since we normally think of the tapered, pointed inverted V, whereas Mauna Loa is a totally different type.”

Mauna Loa. Photo: Go Nakamura/Reuters.

In this sense, Phoenix explained that it is a shield volcano, which is characterized by the fact that its appearance “is like the shield of a warrior turned on its side”, an element that we can see in detail in this video of La Tercera TV.

“So basically we’re looking at a very gentle slope,” the specialist said, adding that “you might think it’s just a really big hill,” with a size that makes it impossible to fully capture it with a common photographic lens. .

Technology as an ally of security

Although Mauna Loa has erupted numerous times throughout history, Phoenix noted that this one in particular creates more opportunities to study the behavior of volcanoes of this magnitude, as advances in technology have increased dramatically. since the dawn of time for the last time in 1984.

“It’s truly amazing for volcanologists around the world, and especially those at the United States Geological Survey, who monitor these volcanoes,” he told The Atlantic, adding that the duration of these events can vary by a few days to several weeks. , months or even a year, a situation that specialists around the world expect.

Photo: Go Nakamura/Reuters.

This led the authorities to allocate the greatest number of resources to hire experts and special teams, in order to document the evolution of the eruption.

For Phoenix and his colleagues, the most important goal is to produce an interactive map that reflects lava movements, so the government can notify local communities in the event of an evacuation.

However, the volcanologist pointed out that at this precise moment, “this is not the case”.

The risks and opportunities of the eruption

Regarding how the geology of this volcano influences the way the eruption unfolds, the expert explained that if we consider the volcanic explosivity index (which measures the force with which the lava jumps and the repercussions it might have on its surroundings), the Mauna Loa would have a score between zero and one, out of a total of eight points.

“It’s usually so low-explosive that they classify these types of eruptions as ‘Hawaiian-style,'” he explained, “so anywhere in the world if you see a lot of slimy lava and not an eruption explosive, they would call it that.”

Photo: Go Nakamura/Reuters.

This could translate into a threat if the waste finds its way into the homes of local communities, but Phoenix insists such risks have not materialized so far.

In any case, specialists and authorities are constantly evaluating it to protect the safety of the inhabitants.

“It is not expected to kill or injure anyone, but this event is important for us from a scientific point of view, because it allows us to capture data much better than before,” he said. – he pointed out to the aforementioned media, later adding that “this will provide us with information on how volcanic eruptions evolve and develop.”

In this sense, he said: “I hope that we can use this information to help make public safety decisions in Hawaii and around the world (…) whenever something like this happens, it’s is another opportunity for us to learn how to navigate the intersection of disasters and human society.

Source: Latercera

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