2022 Eruption of Mauna Loa

Case study by Samuel Cerne

Sources:
https://www.internetgeography.net/mauna-loa-2022-eruption/

https://www.nps.gov/havo/learn/nature/ml2022.htm
https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/november-27-december-
10-2022

https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/november-27-december-
10-2022
Introduction:

● Mauna Loa is the world's largest active volcano and is located in Hawaii.
It covers an area of 2,035 square miles and forms half of the Big Island of
Hawaii.
● The last eruption of Mauna Loa occurred in 1984, and for 39 years it
hasn’t erupted, making the recent eruption in November 2022 very
significant.
The Eruption:

On November 27, 2022, magma first started to come out slowly on the summit caldera of
Mauna Loa.

Due to the pressure, the magma broke through rifts on the side of the volcano and erupted
through lava fountains, some of which were over 40m high.

The hot, runny magma then began flowing down the mountain as lava on November 28,
2022.
Impacts:

● The lava flow from the eruption of Mauna Loa did not pose any immediate threat to
residents.
● The eruption extended 12 miles from the vents in a north-northeast direction before it
ended on December 10.
● Lava flows came within 1.7 miles of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Saddle Road).
Conclusion:

● The eruption of Mauna Loa was a significant event as the volcano had not erupted since
1984.
● The eruption, although it did not pose any immediate threat to residents, highlights the
potential dangers of living near an active volcano.
 Hurricane Katrina

Case study by Samuel Cerne

Sources:
https://www.internetgeography.net/topics/hurrican
e-katrina-case-study/
http://wikipedia.org
Introduction:
Hurricane Katrina, occurred in 2005, and caused around $125 billion of damage and is
considered to be one of the costliest hurricanes on record.

Although it is not the strongest hurricane in history, it had reached winds of 175 mph
and was categorized as a level five hurricane.

The hurricane began as a low-pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean, but quickly
strengthened into a tropical storm that made landfall in Florida and Louisiana.
Particularly in the city of New Orleans.
Impacts:
With Hurricane Katrina being classified as a category five tropical storm, the hurricane caused
storm surges of over six metres in height, resulting in Catastrophic consequences:$125 billion worth
of damage was caused, This included:

Catastrophic flooding caused over 1,200 people to drown, and 1 million people lost their homes, as
80% of the city of New Orleans and neighbouring cities became flooded, causing tens of thousands
of people to be left stranded with little access to food, shelter, or basic necessities.

Transportation and communication networks were damaged, and a slow evacuation process left the
poorest and most vulnerable behind.

Oil facilities were damaged, causing a rise in petrol prices in the UK and USA, (Over 7 million US
gallons of oil leaked from 44 facilities throughout southeastern Louisiana)
Responses to the disaster:
The response to the impacts of Hurricane Katrina included:

1. Criticism of the US government for its handling of the disaster

2. Provision of $50 billion in aid by the government
3. Mobilization of the National Guard to restore law and order in New Orleans
4. Provision of food aid by the UK government during the early stages of the recovery process
 Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcano
eruption
Case study by Samuel Cerne

Sources: https://reliefweb.int/disaster/vo-2022-000005-ton
http://wikipedia.org
Introduction:
The eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcano on January 15, 2022 was one of
the largest eruptions on record since the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883.
Impacts:
The eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcano in Tonga in January 2022 was a
significant event that many impacts on the region:

Triggered tsunami waves of up to 15m which hit the west coast of Tongatapu, ‘Eua and
Ha’apai which caused significant damage to houses, roads, water tanks and other
infrastructure The tsunami also damaged the international and domestic undersea
telecommunications.

Ashfall covered an area of at least five square kilometres, and affected 84,176 people (84%
of the population) on Tongatapu, Ha’apai, and ‘Eua.

Around 3,000 people were displaced in the immediate aftermath, and four deaths occured.
Response:
● The Prime Minister of Tonga declared a state of emergency effective from
16 January
● The Tongan Government and TRCS requested international assistance
● Some families were evacuated from badly affected islands and remain on
Tongatapu, while most subsequently returned to their communities