Type of Volcano

Mauna Loa is a Shield Volcano, and is oceanic. a shield volcano has a broad base and gently sloping sides. It is over oceanic plates and hot spots. Mauna Loa has a low viscosity.

Geologic Locations

Mauna Loa is located in the United States on the Hawaiian islands. Manly know as the "big island". Over the course of millions of years, the Pacific Tectonic Plate has slowly moved over this hotspot to form the entire Hawaiian Island archipelago. This is on an oceanic plate.

Eruption History

Mauna Loa's most recent eruption was in 1984. 1855-1856 is said to be one of the greatest flows ever seen by modern observers

Volcano Shape

9 km above the sea floor lies the greatest volcano on Earth. The "height" of this volcano, relative to neighboring land, (the sea floor) is more like 30,080 ft. and has a diameter of 70 miles. It is Constructed of tholeiitic basalt.It has a crater that is not funnel shaped, its a vast flat-floored cauldron.

Neighboring Volcanoes

Mauna Loa shares the Hawaiian hot spot with its smaller active siblings, Kilauae and Loihi seamount.

Eruption style

Mauna Loa is less explosive, but explodes more frequently than others. It has basaltic lava which has a low viscosity and contains less than about 52% silica. The eruptions can be very hazardous because the lava flows can be up to 25 M.P.H. Its great fountains of molten lava shoot upward Sometimes reaching up to 1000 feet high. The intense heat reaching to 1000 degrees celcius can create miniature tornadoes.

Environmental Dangers and Benefits

Mauna Loa increases soil fertility because the ash contains high levels of useful minerals. Farmers continue to produce goods in the fertile soil after a volcano has erupted. Though it does emit green house gasses which are bad for the envirnment as we all know. This single volcano can produce more greenhouse gasses than all of the gasses produced by man kind. When this volcano erupts the basaltic lava flow can ruin everything in its path, covering highways and houses and all other properties.