November 29, 2022 – Mauna Loa

The Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii is erupting for the first time in 38 years! It’s one of 5 volcanoes on the island of Hawaii, but it’s the largest active volcano on the planet. Mauna Loa has likely been erupting for at least 700,000 years. Since 1843, the volcano has erupted 33 times, averaging every 5 years. However, from 1985 until now, it had its longest period of quiet in recorded history. The good news is that volcanic eruptions in Hawaii rarely cause casualties. The bigger issue is property damage. Earlier eruptions overran villages and major highways. Since 2013, researchers have been using a secluded area on the slopes of Mauna Loa to simulate life on Mars. Called the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation, or HI-SEAS, its purpose is to figure out what is required to keep a space crew happy and healthy on an extended mission to Mars. Learn more here.