HW_HawaiiVO
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EES 0836
Hawaii Volcano Observatory (HVO)
Disasters: Geology vs. Hollywood
Introduction
Steven Chemtob, PhD, watched a clip from Disaster Zone: Volcano in New York (2006), and addressed the difficulties of forecasting eruptions. Obviously, in the clip Steven watched, tectonically speaking, there would be no way to predict that a volcano would erupt beneath that man’s house. Note, however, that there are events that can precede eruptions that can aid volcanologists in making predictions. In this activity, you will be using the United States Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website and making predictions as to future eruptions. Learning Objectives
●
Compare how the depiction of an eruption of a volcano from the movie Disaster Zone: Volcano in New York relates to real world phenomena. (3, 4, a, b)
●
Outline how the eruption of volcanoes on Hawaii would affect people and the environment. (3, 2, a, c)
●
Assess the possibility of a future eruption through current observations. (1, 3, c)
Part 1: YVO at birds eye view
If you visit Hawaii Volcano Observatory
you can see they observe several volcanoes, including the subaquatic volcano Loihi. Loihi is expected to become the next Hawaiian island in 10,000 to 100,000 years. Using the included website, answer the following questions. 1.
How many volcanoes are monitored at this observatory?
The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) is responsible for monitoring 6 active volcanoes on the islands of Hawaii and Maui.
2.
How many volcano(es), if any, are considered:
a.
Very high threat:
Kilauea Mauna Loa
b.
High threat: Hualālai
c.
Moderate threat:
Mauna Kea
Haleakalā
3.
Are all of these the same type of volcano? The volcanoes on the Hawaiian Islands are considered to be shield volcanoes which are characterized by their slope and very fluid lava that can travel long distances. These slopes are built up over time through numerous eruptions.
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4.
Do any volcanoes have an advisory above green/normal? If so, which volcanoes, what color is the
advisory, and why?
The most alarming volcano on this list is the Kilauea volcano, it has an alert level of yellow which is above green, and its last eruption was September 16
th,
2023. It remains one of the youngest and most active on the island and possibly in the world. 5.
Are volcanologists predicting it will erupt? Recent reports measuring that seismic activity is decreasing as well as rock deformation suggest that this type of event is waning. However, episodes of activity can still occur, and possibly an eruption with little advanced warning. Part 2
: HVO with more focus
As you could see in part 1, HVO is monitoring more than just volcanoes. But we are here to look specifically at Kilauea. Is it leading up to something, or is it just doing what it always does? Either click on the link to Kilauea under threat potential or click here
. 1.
What type of volcano is Kilauea?
Kilauea is a shield volcano. Shield volcanoes are characterized by their steep slope and very fluid lava that can travel long distances.
2.
What is the composition of the lava?
Kilauea lava is basaltic. Basaltic lava is typically low in silica and has a low viscosity, which allows it to flow easily and further than lava that is high in silica. 3.
What is the “Threat Potential”?
The threat potential of Kīlauea is “very high” due to its frequent eruptions and the potential impact on populated areas.
4.
Look at “Current Alerts”
a.
What is the current Volcano Alert Level: The current Alert Level is “Advisory” Color Code: “Yellow” b.
What is the current Aviation Color Code: The Aviation Color Code is also “Yellow” along with the ground alert level. 5.
Summarize the “Activity Summary”
a.
Is Kilauea erupting?
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Kīlauea volcano is not erupting.
b.
What is the rate of seismicity?
Seismicity beneath the summit and extending 5-7 miles southwest of the caldera under the Koaʻe fault zone continues. Earthquake counts remain below 10 earthquakes per hour,
with approximately 13 earthquakes recorded in this region over the past 24 hours.
c.
What is the rate of ground deformation?
Ground deformation remains low with tiltmeters near Sand Hill and Uēkahuna Bluff recording increased tilt over the past day. d.
What is the rate of emissions, and what is Kilauea emitting?
Emission rates have remained low since October 2023. A Sulfur Dioxide emission rate of
approximately 70 tonnes per day was recorded on January 17.
6.
Based on this information, would you expect that Kilauea will erupt within the near future? Explain your answer. (2-3 sentences)
Based on the limited seismic activity and the absence of an eruption, I don’t think that there's an indication that Kīlauea will erupt in the near future. However, volcanic activity can change very quickly, and predictions can easily be dismissed. 7.
If you had the opportunity to purchase a house that was located on Kilauea, what would you do to
try to protect it from future eruptions? Explain your answer. (2-3 sentences)
If I were to purchase a house in Kīlauea, the first thing I would do is purchase insurance for my house against volcanic eruptions to limit any financial liability in repairs. As a barrier to limit the flow toward that actual house, I would build reinforced walls with galvanized steel and concrete to reduce as much damage as possible. The galvanization of the steel allows it to combat high temperatures, corrosive gasses, and physical impact. Other than this being prepared with supplies and an escape route is the best way to ensure safety and your home salvageable.
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EES 0836
Short Answer
(2-3 paragraph):
As Steven Chemtob talked about in the reaction video, they noted that some of the events that preceded the eruption of the volcano appear to make sense, albeit on a condensed timeline. Based on what you found in your Hawaiian Volcano observatory research, answer the following questions. ●
What are the similarities and differences between what was in the movie clip and what you researched? In your response, be sure to include all of the noted information that Dr. Chemtob addressed, including tectonic setting, lava composition, events that precede the eruption, as well as the type of volcano they thought it was.
●
Does this compare/differ with your research? Explain your answer.
●
If you were to rewrite this scene, what would you do to make it more realistic? Some of the similarities and differences between what was in the movie clip and what actually happens when a volcano erupts are very prominent. With the help of breaking down the clip from Dr. Chemtob the
first thing I noticed that is similar to that of a real eruption is that it identifies a lot of precursors to a real volcanic eruption. One of the precursors is earthquakes before an eruption, lava can move around the interior of volcanoes causing rock to shift and crack triggering earthquakes. Now one of the differences I noticed with there being so many, is the time in between the precursors. Precursors can often happen days
to sometimes weeks in advance before an eruption occurs and it feels like this timeline as highlighted by Dr. Chemtob is sped up and doesn’t represent the actual time of knowing when an eruption would happen. I think this scene is very different from what happens in a real-life setting based on my research above, the complimenting lectures, and Dr. Chemtob's video. With the extensive monitoring and measuring of the seismic activity around all the volcanoes on the Hawaiin island, it’s hard to not be able to find a single
precursor to an actual eruption. To make this more realistic I would probably have a volcano at least in site to make an eruption in the middle of a suburban neighborhood more reasonable as well as provide context to the larger issue at hand. The second thing I would do is change the depiction of the lava not like a pipe bursting but a stalking flow that keeps following you to add a sense of danger and fear.