Since Ronald Reagan was president, the world's biggest volcano has not erupted.
The United States Geological Survey warned Big Island residents to remain vigilant after the volcano came to life for the first time in 30 years.
The threat level has been raised from "advisory" to "warning" despite the fact that lava flows are contained within the summit area and are not threatening downslope communities.
The location and advance of lava flows can change quickly based on past events.
The light projectiles that may be at risk are volcanic gas, fine ash, or Pele's hair, which are the strand-like glass fibers that sometimes result from eruptions.
Mauna Loa is erupting for the first time in nearly four decades on the Big Island of Hawaii. The USGS has more on what is happening and may happen next. (It's difficult to predict. The skies are rather omninous in Kailua-Kona.https://t.co/tuP5Sv2rBZ https://t.co/fHjE0tC9CJ
— Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) November 28, 2022
The world's largest active volcano has erupted 33 times since the year the islands gained independence from Britain and France. It has been 38 years since the last eruption, which was the longest quiet period since records have been kept.
The US Geological Survey hopes that the eruption will stay contained to the summit's Moku'weoweo caldera.
If the eruptive vents migrate outside its walls, lava flows may move quickly downslope.
It's been a long time coming and hopefully the eruption won't cause tragedy.
There is a new island in the ocean.
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