Recent Volcanic Activity caught in Hawaii
Volcano eruption in Hawaii 2021
Kilauea Volcano eruption causing collateral damage
[해외특파원 1기 / 이준서 기자] Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii, USA, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, began erupting on October 29th, 2021. The US Geological Survey (USGS) stated that an eruption of the Big Island Kilauea was observed at 3:20 pm, local time.
The eruption point was found to be the Hallemaumau crater near the top of the mountain. Observation cameras have captured lava generated through cracks in rocks inside the crater and gas rising like clouds due to volcanic action. As a result, USGS raised the alert level of the Kilauea volcano from “caution” to “warning” and the level of aviation risk from “orange” “red”, suggesting the severity and the catastrophes it may trigger in the near future. The adjusted alert level corresponds to when a dangerous volcanic eruption is imminent or in progress. The scope of the eruption is inside Hawaii Volcano National Park, which is not expected to pose an immediate threat to nearby residents. Ken Honusgs, a researcher at Ap, told the news agency, “No signal has yet been confirmed that lava is flowing to the lowlands of the eastern rift zone, where it is a residential area”. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t pose a threat to prevent these residential territories from turning into lava residue.
The Kilauea volcano is the most active Hawaiian volcano and continues to differentiate large and small. In December of last year, the volcano erupted and emitted lava 50 metres above sea level, and several aftershocks ranging from 2 to 4 in magnitude occurred for an hour post-eruption. In 2018, it exploded with a large amount of lava, destroying more than 700 hours. At the time, the amount of lava erupted was enough to fill 320,000 swimming pools according to Olympic standards. Statistics clearly indicate that we mustn’t consider this volcanic eruption as an easygoing, simple matter.
Volcanoes are essential to provide clean energy such as geothermal energy. However, the turmoil that it can induce is calamitous, wiping out villages, or potentially cities in an instant.
