Is the earth becoming more active geologically? Will this eruption be more or less severe than past eruptions? Is this the goddess Pele at work?
I doubt it's the earth becoming more geologically active, but this is to be expected on the Hawaiian islands. They're all volcanoes, whether active or dormant, and that hotspot that's been forming the island chain is obviously still very much active. I just wonder how bad this eruption will get.
Hawaii volcano eruption By Veronica Rocha, CNN updated less than 1 min ago7:36 p.m. ET, May 4, 2018 23 min ago A new volcanic vent has opened in Leilani Estates From CNN's Chris Boyette The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory confirmed that a new volcanic vent has opened in Leilani Estates. Cracks in Kilauea volcano's rift zone -- an area of fissures miles away from the summit -- erupted Thursday and early Friday, spurting lava in Leilani Estates, a community of about 1,700 people near the island's eastern edge. This makes four active volcanic fissures on the island. A new earthquake rattles Hawaii's Big Island, and new fissure forms. pic.twitter.com/DuR3XcY2cG — Veronica Rocha (@VeronicaRochaLA) May 4, 2018 11 min ago Magnitude 6.9 quake reported in Hawaii From CNN's Dave Alsup The US Geological Survey is reporting a magnitude 6.9 quake in Hawaii in the last half hour. The quake occurred about 10 miles southwest of Leilani Estates on the Big Island. There have been 119 earthquakes on Hawaii’s big island in the last 24 hours, according to USGS seismology Jana Pursley. 1 min ago Sea level fluctuations possible after 6.9 quake, but no tsunami expected The National Weather Service Pacific Tsunami Center said "some areas may experience small sea level fluctuations," following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Hawaii. However, no tsunami is expected, the center said. https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/hawaii-kilauea-volcano-eruption/index.html
Just wait until the next super volcano erupts. That will basically end mankind or throw whomever is left back into the stone age. We have a big one under Yellowstone. The last five eruptions there occurred 6.0 million years ago, 4.5 million years ago, 2.1 million years ago, 1.2 million years ago and the last one 640,000 years ago. Now there is another located in New Zealand which erupted 1.1 million years ago, then again 340,000 and its last 26,500 years ago. There are around 20 super volcanoes in the world. Some bigger than others. Around every 100,000 years one erupts. http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-25598050
The southeast section, about 10% of the big island, is eventually going to go tumbling down into the Pacific in a mega-landslide. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilina_Slump Probably not for thousands of years, but it will happen. Looks like this little earthquake wasn't enough to make it happen.
The earthquake swarms and higher magnitude indicate there may very well be something severe about to happen.
I have been to Yellowstone several times and you definitely feel like you are on a huge volcano that could go off at any moment. It's an amazing and beautiful place and a bit unsettling all at the same time.
That thing erupting is a scary thought. I live kind of close, after all, and they project the worst damage falling to the east of it, in my general direction.
I don't know if it's quite that bad, but there would be volcanic ash out my way. Otherwise, it's a question of climatic impact, isn't it? And that would be much more widespread, no doubt beyond North America. Lots of people could be in trouble, but there's no saying who would live and who would die in that scenario. I'm sure humanity has endured worse; the last ice age could not have been a picnic.
"We all die" was hyperbole on my part but it would be world changing and would cause mass starvation and wars would break out as countries fought over resources and geopolitical turmoil that would likely kill more than the volcano itself. If you are just east of Yellowstone though you will definitely die a horrible covered in hot ash death.
Thar she blows... USGS says Hawaii volcano could shoot boulders and rocks Fri, May 11, 2018 - Geologists on Wednesday warned that Hawaii’s Kilauea Volcano could erupt explosively and send boulders, rocks and ash into the air around its summit in the coming weeks.
