Volcanic activity

 Mauna Loa , Hawaii Volcano 

This is a volcano that I studied a semester ago, for my Natural Disaster class and then later that spring my older brother went to the island that this volcano was on. I learned a little about this volcano: it is a shield volcano that is horizontal when it erupts. it also spreads lava in waves because it is for the most part flat. It also has been dormant for 38 years until 2022. Although it's flat it can destroy several hundreds of acres of land because of the viscosity of the lava, I think the textbook we used said the lava was soft and had the consistency of a semi-baked cake. Because the lava is mostly basalt-based it is soft and moves like shampoo. Shield volcanos are known for their basalt flows and rivers of lava. It is also the largest shield volcano on the Hawaiian islands.

Since this volcano is mostly flat, it doesn't have violent eruptions like a composite volcano would, however, there are still the same warning signs of an eruption such as earthquakes and gas clouds escaping from the mouth or entrance of the volcano. This first picture shows a fire fountain. The second picture gives you an idea of how the lava spreads. The last picture is of the basalt deposits that are left behind after the lava cools completely.

https://youtu.be/N7sg4ofLjC0

This video shows you some of the eruptions and how the lave flows. I think if I ever had to face a volcano this is the kind I would want because you have time to get out of the way. I choose this one not only because I knew something about it but also because Utah doesn't have any active volcanos, the closest one is Yellowstone but I did learn that from the Yellowstone hot spot, certain parts of Utah get Basalt flows.