Overview
What Mauna Loa is
Mauna Loa is one of the largest shield volcanoes on Earth by volume and area. Its visible form is broad, not sharply conical.
The record is useful for explaining ocean-island volcano growth and the landforms made by basaltic lava.
Shield Form
Long slopes, rift zones, and lava aprons
Mauna Loa's rift zones direct eruptions along linear weaknesses. Lava flows spread from vents and build wide volcanic surfaces.
Summit
Caldera structure
Collapse and vent activity shape the top.
Flanks
Basalt flows
Fluid lava travels far across low-angle slopes.
Island
Oceanic growth
The volcano helps build the Hawaiian island mass.