Blogging the Vog: Local Experiences with the Haze

This past week we saw the worst vog [volcano smog] we can remember here on Hawaii's Big Island. Kilauea volcano has been erupting continuously since 1983, but ever since a new vent opened last month in Halemaumau crater, near the summit of Kilauea, the emissions from the volcano have increased substantially. Prior to the first explosive eruption in mid-March, the Pu'u O'o vent in the east rift zone was responsible for most of Kilauea's vog-producing emissions. Now emissions from the new vent are added to those from the east rift zone, nearly doubling the total amount of ash and gases that enter the atmosphere around the island.

Yesterday, April 27, 2008, the Sulfur Dioxide(SO2) emission rate at Kilauea summit was 1,480 tonnes/day compared to a background rate between 150-200 tonnes/day; the SO2 emission rate in the east rift zone was about 2,240 tonnes/day, according to a status report posted to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website.

This past week's light winds allowed the vog haze to settle over the islands instead of being blown out to sea. The Big Island suffered the most, since it is home to Kilauea, but all of the Hawaiian islands reported noticeable vog during the past week. Over the weekend, we had a brief respite when the winds picked up a bit, but the reprieve lasted a matter of hours. The wind died down again, and the vog has rolled back in.

I'm still working on the vog resource page I promised last time. In the course of my online search for articles and other information about the heavy vog we've been seeing recently here in Hawaii, I have come across many personal experience stories -- in newspapers, magazines, and on other Hawaii residents' blogs. I would like to share some of those with my readers.

Yesterday, April 27, the Honolulu Advertiser published an excellent article, titled Kilauea's fumes over Hawaii a concern, that outlined the worries of Hawaii residents about the vog, ranging from health concerns to the effects on the livelihoods of farmers. The article mentioned that teachers at some Big Island schools had advised students to take recess indoors, while some elderly pedestrians were seen in downtown Hilo holding handkerchiefs over their noses and mouths. Coffee, flower and lettuce farmers told of their plants dying, or bearing deformed blossoms.

The Honolulu Advertiser article quoted the administrator of Ka'u Hospital in Pahala, who said that there has been an estimated 50 percent increase in emergency room and clinic visits from people complaining of respiratory problems. According to the state Department of Health, Federal ambient air quality standards for average 24-hour sulfur dioxide exposure were exceeded nine times in the past six weeks in Pahala, a community directly downwind of Kilauea.

As interesting as the Honolulu Advertiser article is, the comments added by readers are even more compelling. Readers expressed worry over both the immediate impact on their health, and the potential long-term effects for themselves and their children, and decried the dearth of helpful information available to them. Other readers commented on the potential for negative effects on the economy, particularly on the Big Island.

The vog was particularly heavy this past week, and the absence of tradewinds meant that the plume of emissions traveled up the island chain, affecting all of the populated islands. This past Saturday a woman on Oahu, well over 200 air miles away from the volcano, wrote in her blog, The Farmer Files:

...When we look outside we can see a thick brown haze in the distance. The other day I walked Son1 to school. I felt I swallowed a dust cloud! Son2 has had recurrent sinus infections since late November . My pediatrician says these are the worst cases of childhood respiratory concerns she has seen in twenty years. Faithfully, I have chased my children around with prescription medication that will reduce breathing accutenes associated with vog. My eyes are watery tonight and Hubby is using an inhaler as a precautionary measure. Son1 is in a fit of coughs and sadly, Son2 is congested again. We are praying for rain!!!!

Another blogger posted a photo of the vog, shot from Kamehame Ridge, which overlooks the Oahu coastline from Makapu'u to Waimanalo, and included a comparison shot of "how it usually looks." Have a look for yourself by visiting Pa'i ki'i Imagery.

Two recent articles on Hawai'i Magazine's website included photos of the vog: Living on Kilauea: "Crystal clear to vog fear" by Bill Harby, who lives in Volcano Village; and A day in the life on Lanai, by Derek Paiva. The articles are nice to read, but the photos are unsettling.

I suppose that everyone here would be feeling less alarmed if we knew that this was a temporary situation. We've all lived with vog off and on since Kilauea began its current eruption in 1983, but this time it just seems different. Different, as in much worse than we've ever seen, and with no end in sight.

Yesterday's Honolulu Advertiser article, mentioned above, asked Don Thomas, director of the Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes at the University of Hawai'i-Hilo, how long the emissions may continue at Kilauea's summit. He said, "At this point, because this is really a new type of event, we really don't know. We haven't seen the full range of activity for Kilauea, and it may be uncomfortable, and it may be uncomfortable for quite a while."

As Big Island Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira puts it, "Because this is going to be a long-term thing, it seems like the public is adjusting, tolerating, making their own personal life changes to minimize the risk, whether it be either staying indoors or leaving the area."

Considering my own history of vog-induced respiratory problems, I am one of those who has been staying indoors, with the air conditioning and the HEPA filters running. Early this morning I could see the ocean to the horizon from the window beside my desk. I went outside for a short while. By midday I could no longer see the ocean at all through the thick haze. Again.

To read more of what I have written about Kilauea volcano and the vog, click here.

[Photo Source]