USGS Raises Yellow Warning on 6 Active Volcanoes in US for 'Elevated Unrest'

The USGS has issued a Yellow code and an Advisory notice for six volcanoes all over the country that they are monitoring; the USGS says these volcanoes are "exhibiting indications of increased disturbance beyond known background levels."

Mauna Loa, the world's biggest active volcano, and Kilauea, Great Sitkin, Gareloi, Semisopochnoi, and Cleveland are among the six volcanoes on high alert. While Mauna Loa and Kilauea are on the Big Island of Hawaii, the remainder of the Yellow code volcanoes are all in Alaska.

The next volcano to erupt in the United States might be Mauna Loa in Hawaii, the world's biggest. While an eruption of Mauna Loa is not imminent, now is the time to reassess personal eruption preparations, according to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) experts with the USGS. Having an eruption strategy in place ahead of time is similar to planning for hurricane season."

With a height of 13,681 feet above sea level, Mauna Loa is the world's biggest active volcano. Mauna Loa rises from the Central Pacific's ocean floor at a depth of roughly 3 miles.

However, the ocean bottom just under Mauna Loa is lowered by additional 5 miles due to the volcano's massive bulk. According to the USGS, Mauna Loa's peak is roughly 56,000 feet above its base; the massive volcano occupies half of the island of Hawaii, commonly known as the "Big Island of Hawaii."

Mauna Loa eruptions create large, fast-moving lava flows that affect towns on the Big Island's east and west flanks, from Kona to Hilo. Seven Mauna Loa lava flows have threatened Hilo in eastern Hawaii since the 1850s. In addition, Mauna Loa lava flows have reached the coast on the island's south and west sides eight times: in 1859, 1868, 1887, 1926, 1919, and three times in 1950.

According to the USGS, while Mauna Loa is not now erupting, rates of deformation and seismicity remain high beyond long-term background values.

Slow, long-term summit inflation, compatible with magma supply to the volcano's shallow storage system, has been seen by GPS data. The modest uptick in the inflation rate that began in January has continued.

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