For the first time in more than thirty years, scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory have raised the alert level for Mauna Loa.
The elevation from normal to advisory indicates the volcano is showing signs of activity that are greater than normal levels. Seismic stations have recorded heightened levels of shallow, small magnitude earthquakes beneath the summit of the upper south-west rift zone. Janet Babb is a Geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey.
The most recent eruption of Mauna Loa began in March of 1984 – and lasted for three weeks.