Earthquake in Mauna Loa Could Trigger the Largest Volcanic Eruption

Marine and atmospheric science experts have concluded that a destructive earthquake could wake the largest volcano on Earth and lead to the biggest eruption in our lifetime.

The deadly but straightforward formula to the massive eruption just needs a magnitude-6 or higher earthquake to increase the influx of magma on a specific region of the Mauna Loa, Earth's largest volcano. The part is in the western area of the volcano, and underneath is a sub-horizontal fault that an earthquake can easily trigger, reports SciTechDaily.

Earth's Largest Volcano, Hawaii's Mauna Loa

Mauna Loa was observed by a team of experts from the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami (MU). The tests were accomplished using the Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) satellite imagery that receives and interprets data from ground movements.

Through the InSAR technology, researchers found the exact parameters of the magma's direction and change over time. And with the help of the Hawaii Volcano Observatory, they were also able to analyze the mapping of the flanks that moved using GPS networks.

In reference to the research published in Scientific Reports entitled "Southward growth of Mauna Loa's dike-like magma body driven by topographic stress," the scientists found that a large volume of magma moved into a basin located on the summit caldera's southern area between the year 2015 to 2020. This basin is a dike-like contraption with a depth of 3 kilometers just below the summit.

Magnitude 6 Earthquake Could Trigger Largest Volcanic Eruption

The magma of the largest volcano began to excessively expand southward in a recorded 2015 activity. In 2017, the flux paused and resumed its previous horizontal movement. Accordion to the report, this volcanic magma activity had not been noted with other volcanoes before.

The experts have concluded that an earthquake could possibly start the biggest eruption because of the dormant western flank of the volcano. The western area is pretty quiet compared to the movements on the eastern flank. With this, the research suggests that the western part of the enormous volcano is due any time soon.

The magma influx can trigger the volcano to erupt, but it isn't a requirement, according to UM Rosenstiel School's Ph.D. candidate and lead author Bhuvan Varugu. This was also backed up by the senior author of the study Falk Amelung, saying that an earthquake could initiate the volcanos' outburst instantly.

Because of the suspicious slumber of the western flank, Amelung stated that the volcano could possibly release gases from the magma. He compared the process to opening a bottled soda full of pressure as an effect of excessive shaking. Amelung added that this pressure would result in the shattering of rocks just above the magma.

According to the research, there are still variables that must be looked upon to examine additional data. This includes the movements before 2002 and the size of the patch above the fault. Experts will continue to study the activities of the Mauna Loa and conduct extensive observations to build a better model for the next eruption forecast.

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