Scientists observe 2 new lava flows on Mauna Loa, the world's largest active volcano

Scientists have observed two new lava flows out of the Mauna Loa volcano on Hawaii's Big Island -- the largest active volcano in the world.

The lava is flowing north out of Fissure 3 in the northeast rift zone, crossing the road outside the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's observatory overnight, the U.S. Geological Survey announced Tuesday morning.

Ash and lava began spewing out of the volcano on Sunday around 11:30 p.m. and continued into Monday, is the first eruption from Mauna Loa in nearly 40 years.

The lava was contained to the summit, and there are currently no threats to populated areas, according to the USGS.

PHOTO: This video grab released on Nov. 28, 2022 courtesy of Matthew Liano shows eruption of Mauna Loa in Hawaii, which is erupting for the first time in nearly 40 years. (Courtesy Matthew Liano)
PHOTO: This video grab released on Nov. 28, 2022 courtesy of Matthew Liano shows eruption of Mauna Loa in Hawaii, which is erupting for the first time in nearly 40 years. (Courtesy Matthew Liano)
PHOTO: This aerial image released by the U.S. Geological Survey on Nov. 28, 2022, courtesy of the National Weather Service, shows the lava in the summit caldera of Mauna Loa in Hawaii, which is erupting for the first time in nearly 40 years. (Handout/U.S. Geological Survey/AFP via Getty Images)
PHOTO: This aerial image released by the U.S. Geological Survey on Nov. 28, 2022, courtesy of the National Weather Service, shows the lava in the summit caldera of Mauna Loa in Hawaii, which is erupting for the first time in nearly 40 years. (Handout/U.S. Geological Survey/AFP via Getty Images)

However, the eruption has migrated from the summit to the northeast rift zone, where fissures are feeding several lava flows, according to the USGS, which advised residents at possible risk from Mauna Loa lava flows to review preparedness and refer to Hawaii County Civil Defense information for further guidance.

Lava flows are significant enough to be visible from Kona, dozens of miles away.

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Mauna Loa is so large it takes up more than half of the Big Island. The last time it erupted was in March and April 1984.

The volcano has erupted dozens of times since the 1880s, allowing volcanologists to get to know its "personality," Michael Poland, research geophysicist for the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory, told ABC News. This means that scientists are predicting that the flow will likely abate now because the initial eruptions are typically the heaviest.

PHOTO: Hawaii's Mauna Loa, Largest Active Volcano in the World, Begins Erupting (ABC News Photo Illustration)
PHOTO: Hawaii's Mauna Loa, Largest Active Volcano in the World, Begins Erupting (ABC News Photo Illustration)

Since the eruption is occurring to the northeast, where the peak's slope seaward is more gentle, it would take weeks of a continuous eruption for it to reach Hilo, Poland said.

Gov. David Ige told ABC News Live that he was not yet worried about any impact on Hawaiians.

"I think right now we're not that concerned," Ige said. "The eruptions and the fissures are very high up. ... In fact, there really is no communities or no structures anywhere close to the fissures that are erupting right now."

PHOTO: This aerial image released by the US Geological Survey (USGS)from Civil Air Patrol on Nov. 28, 2022, shows the lava on the northeast rift zone of Mauna Loa in Hawaii. (Handout/US Geological Survey/AFP via Getty Images)
PHOTO: This aerial image released by the US Geological Survey (USGS)from Civil Air Patrol on Nov. 28, 2022, shows the lava on the northeast rift zone of Mauna Loa in Hawaii. (Handout/US Geological Survey/AFP via Getty Images)

"It will take weeks, if not longer, of eruptions occurring in order for the Northeast Rift Zone eruption to reach any kind of community or get close to any infrastructure," the governor added.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has closed the Mauna Loa Summit Area to visitors as a precaution

Video posted to Twitter by the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory shows thermal footage of the lava flowing out of the volcano's summit.

In conjunction with the lava flow, there were more than a dozen earthquakes in the region of more than 2.5 magnitude early Monday morning, according to the USGS.

Lava was still erupting from the summit and was overflowing from the caldera Monday, according to USGS Volcanoes. The National Weather Service issued an ashfall advisory for depositing ash and debris, as well as light accumulation of ash on vessels, until 6 a.m. along the Alenuihaha Channel, Big Island windward waters, Big Island leeward waters and Big Island southeast waters.

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The NWS advised that vessels should remain at port or avoid advisory areas, and those with respiratory sensitivities should take extra precautions to minimize exposure.

Falling volcanic ash and debris can also render engines or electronics inoperative, according to the NWS.

PHOTO: Steam rises from Sulfur Cone, on the Southwest Rift Zone of Mauna Loa's summit region in Hawaii, U.S. during an overflight by geologists of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Oct. 28, 2022. (K. Mulliken/usgs/via Reuters)
PHOTO: Steam rises from Sulfur Cone, on the Southwest Rift Zone of Mauna Loa's summit region in Hawaii, U.S. during an overflight by geologists of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Oct. 28, 2022. (K. Mulliken/usgs/via Reuters)

Hawaii is home to several active volcanos, including the Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island, one of the most active in the world.

MORE: Lava continues to flow out of Hawaii's Kīlauea volcano, one of the most active in the world

Volcano activity has been recorded all around the globe over the past year.

Major eruptions could be underway from two volcanoes on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula after clouds of ash and lava began spewing on Nov. 20.

PHOTO: This webcam image released by the US Geological Survey (USGS), Nov. 28, 2022 courtesy of the National Weather Service, shows the lava in the summit caldera of Mauna Loa in Hawaii, which is erupting for the first time in nearly 40 years.  (Handout/US Geological Survey/AFP via Getty Images)
PHOTO: This webcam image released by the US Geological Survey (USGS), Nov. 28, 2022 courtesy of the National Weather Service, shows the lava in the summit caldera of Mauna Loa in Hawaii, which is erupting for the first time in nearly 40 years. (Handout/US Geological Survey/AFP via Getty Images)

In July, an eruption at the Sakurajima volcano in Japan prompted evacuation orders for residents nearby in the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima.

And last week, marine geologists announced that the underwater volcano eruption that occurred on Jan. 15 in the Tongan archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean is the largest ever recorded.

ABC News' Max Golembo, Matt Gutman and Bonnie Mclean contributed to this report.

Scientists observe 2 new lava flows on Mauna Loa, the world's largest active volcano originally appeared on abcnews.go.com