Blogging the Vog: Two positive developments

Regular readers of this blog know that I closely follow developments concerning a local problem here on the Big Island of Hawaii, called "vog." Vog is volcanic smog -- a product of emissions from Kilauea volcano, which is located on our island.

Vog is a kind of air pollution that we Big Islanders have had to deal with from time to time over the past 25 years. Kilauea has been erupting continuously since 1983, but this past spring it entered a more vigorous eruptive phase. As a result, in recent months we have had contend with more vog, more frequently.

The vog creates problems for human and animal health, and has had negative effects on local agriculture. Since scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory have concluded that Kilauea likely will continue erupting indefinitely, local residents are wondering what can be done to mitigate the effects of vog on their health and their livelihoods.

In the past several days, two new developments have been announced. First, we learned that farmers in Hawaii will be eligible for disaster relief under new Federal legislation called the 2008 Farm Bill. An article in West Hawaii Today about provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill quoted Congresswoman Maizie Hirono, who voted for the bill:

"This program is designed to help farmers across the island chain," she said. "The most recent example can be found on the Big Island, where crops have been destroyed by the ongoing spread of vog. I hope the affected farmers will take advantage of this federal opportunity."

State Rep. Robert Herkes, who heads a Special Committee on Vog Effects in the Hawaii House of Representatives hailed the enactment of the 2008 Farm Bill, noting, "The protea and cut flower growers in Ocean View and Wood Valley in particular have been hard hit and this financial relief is especially welcome and timely."

The second newsworthy development is that a team from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will come to the Big Island next month to assess the health risks from vog. According to West Hawaii Today, the visiting CDC team, which will include investigators from the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, will meet with officials from the state Department of Health, and others, "to do an environmental health risk analysis and assessment of the volcano's emissions, and develop strategies to mitigate their effects."

The vog task force includes Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim, and representatives of the county Fire Department; state Departments of Health, Civil Defense, Public Safety, and Agriculture; the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources; the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency; Hawaiian Volcano Observatory; and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

We all will look forward to learning the task force's findings.

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

[Photo Source]

Dramatic Video of Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano

Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii put on quite a show on the Fourth of July, some of which is recorded on this Associated Press video. The video depicts lava from the east rift zone of Kilauea entering the Pacific Ocean. As soon as the lava hits the water, it creates a huge steam plume.

Next, the video shows bursts of lava shooting skyward and then splashing back down to the surface. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website explains that these are lava bubble bursts, caused by water seeping into the lava tube system through cracks. The water quickly flashes into steam, which expels lava into the air.

Near the end of the video there is a brief sequence that shows lava flowing through and igniting an area of vegetation.



(If the video does not play or display properly above, click here to view it on YouTube.)

Blogging the Vog: SO2 Monitoring on the Big Island

Hawaii's National Guard has joined the fray in coping with emissions from Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. Honolulu's KHON 2 News reports that State and Federal agencies -- including the Guard -- have set up new monitoring systems to track concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2) in the ambient air at a number of locations around the Big Island. SO2 is considered to be potentially the most hazardous of the numerous gases emitted by Kilauea Volcano.

According to KHON 2 News, the monitoring equipment deployed to monitor SO2 on the Big Island is the same as that used to monitor for "weapons of mass destruction" -- presumably that used to detect evidence of chemical warfare agents. What a thought! -- yet what an appropriate and welcome peacetime use for such equipment.

KHON 2 News quoted Lt. Colonel Trey Johnson, Hawaii National Guard, who said, "In this particular case Kilauea was producing sulphur dioxide levels that were of concern, and that exceeded the county's ability to respond to it effectively."

Hawaii County Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira added, "We had none of that in place prior to April. And again thanks to all the partnership we had with all the agencies, mainly the 93rd, we were able to put that together so now we have some form of monitoring system in place that can be used as a tool."

In recent months, Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii has been emitting unusually high levels of gases, smoke, and ash, leading to unprecedented amounts of vog (volcano smog). At times the vog has been heavy enough to be visible throughout the island chain, even in communities on Kauai, the island farthest from the active volcano. Communities on the Big Island have been affected most, and most often, due to their proximity to the source of the emissions that create the vog.

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About the Illustration: The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) produces mapped 24-hour composite images of SO2 emissions from Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano. The one shown above maps the SO2 cloud for June 20, 2008. Click on the image above to view the four most recent NOAA SO2 maps for Kilauea.

Click here for information and links to more resources about vog in Hawaii.

Hawaii House of Representatives Committee to Study Vog Effects

A Special Committee on Vog Effects has been appointed in the Hawaii House of Representatives. The committee is tasked with studying the impact of vog (volcano smog) on "the public's health and safety, agriculture, water quality, pets and animals, wildlife, and other areas," according to an item posted yesterday on the Hawaii House Blog.

The committee is composed of eight state lawmakers, mostly from the Big Island. The chairman of the committee is Rep. Robert Herkes (D, District 5: Puna, Kau, North Kona,South Kona), pictured at right.

"What is occurring is a natural disaster, but unlike a tsunami, hurricane, twister or major earthquake, it is not viewed as one," said Rep. Herkes. "The legislature needs to focus on the impacts on Hawaii residents such as health and safety, loss of agricultural crops or the impact on tourism and jobs, and explore all avenues of relief."

The Hawaii House Blog says that a report on the committee's findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives is due at least twenty days prior to the convening of the Legislature's Regular Session in January of 2009.

[Photo Source]

Blogging the Vog: Now you see it, now you don't

I have just added a new item to the Hawaii Vog Information and Resources page that I published last week. A unit of the NOAA Satellite and Information Service has provided a web page showing a Kilauea SO2 Graphic, a chart that maps the location of the SO2 plume from Kilauea volcano for the current date, and three preceding dates. When the page loads, you will see a map of Hawaii, and below it a bar with the notation "Current; Previous1; Previous2; Previous3." Hover your mouse over SO2 for each of the four days, and a plot of the SO2 plume for that day will appear on the map.

The above graphic is a link from the project's main page, from which you can click on links to other volcanoes around the world. You can also look at global daily composites of three different regions: Tropics, Northern Hemisphere, and Southern Hemisphere. Those are high resolution mosaics, and they take awhile to load, but if you are interested in volcanic emissions, it's worth the wait. My husband noticed that on the image for the Tropics, the SO2 plume from Hawaii's volcano was huge compared to every other location on the map, without exception. It's also quite sobering to note just how far out to sea Kilauea's SO2 plume extends.

Vog (volcano smog) was a problem for the entire state of Hawaii again this past week. The photo at right illustrates the source of that problem. The May 13, 2008 photo, from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), shows the gas and ash plume emitting from Halemaumau crater at the summit of Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island. According to the HVO: "Stagnant surface winds, combined with higher elevation winds, caused the plume to rise straight up and then shear off." [Click on the photo to enlarge it.]

Yes, the plume sheared off, and the vog drifted up the island chain, ultimately affecting all of the populated islands. The haze hung over the islands for days. Today, May 18, the haze is dissipating again, as light trade winds have begun to blow.

I said in an earlier post that, although we all have been living with Kilauea's more or less continuous erupting since 1983, the increase in vog following the opening of the new vent in Halemaumau crater in March has been noticeable. It's not my imagination. Not only has the daily output of emissions increased, as measured by the scientists at the HVO, the resulting vog has been more bothersome. It is affecting the health of residents, not just in areas immediately down wind of the volcano, but across the entire island chain.

On Friday, May 16, an article in the Honolulu Advertiser reported on the rising number of respiratory complaints from residents across the state. In fact, breathing problems were being reported even by people with no history of respiratory ailments.

"We're seeing probably out of every 10 patients, seven have not had symptoms before and the other three have had a history of allergies and this is just making it worse," said Dr. Irving Harper III, a Maui physician specializing in internal medicine and allergy management.

Harper said doctors he's talked with have reported a 20 percent increase in the number of patients they've seen this week. Many of the patients complain of breathing difficulties, runny noses, irritated eyes and sore throats.

Dr. Harper said the vog seems to be affecting healthy people as well as allergy sufferers. He said he's treated lifeguards and others who work outdoors.

"They're younger people, outdoor people who are usually healthy and are presenting with symptoms that you usually don't see," he said. "A lot of them are saying they just don't have the energy level that they used to have and that they're a little short of breath."

Beth-Ann Kozlovich, the development director of Hawaii's chapter of the American Lung Association, said that the Association has been taking calls from people on all the islands, and that many callers are saying this is the worst vog they've ever seen. Ms. Kozlovich also mentioned that people with no history of respiratory problems are suffering.

By the way, those of us who do have a history of respiratory ailments have been staying indoors and puffing on our albuterol inhalers. I'm thinking it's just about time to pay a visit to a relative who lives in Colorado, just for a breath of fresh air!

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

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About the Photo: This USGS photo, taken on May 13, 2008, shows the gas-and-ash plume emitted from Halemaumau crater at the Kilauea summit. To view more photos of Kilauea, visit the Kilauea Images page on the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website.

Vog in Hawaii: Information and Resources

This page is a collection of resources about vog (volcanic smog) in Hawaii. Vog, a kind of air pollution, is a product of emissions from Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii.

The volcano emits smoke, ash and gases in amounts that vary constantly. Weather factors, especially the direction and speed of the wind, determine whether the emissions from Kilauea are blown out to sea, or over the coasts and interior of the Big Island. A combination of increased emissions, coupled with winds from the south or southwest, sometimes will carry the vog plume hundreds of miles up the island chain, affecting all of the Hawaiian Islands.

We rely on a partnership among Federal, State, and County agencies to monitor levels of volcanic emissions, and to warn us of potentially hazardous conditions. The Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency has made available an online brochure in a printable ('pdf') format, updated in April 2008, which explains the hazards and summarizes measures that residents can take to protect themselves, their livestock, and their crops. The brochure is a good starting point for understanding how to cope with vog. Here is the link: Emissions from Kilauea Volcano

Sulfur Dioxide

Sulfur dioxide (SO2), one of the gases emitted by Kilauea volcano, is considered to be a potential health hazard. The agencies that monitor concentrations of SO2 in the ambient air use a color code system, illustrated at right, to inform the public of SO2 hazard status.

The new Hawaii County Civil Defense brochure mentioned above says, "It is expected that any area down wind of the vent site of Halema‘uma‘u can expect SO2 levels to be higher than in previous years." Remember: which areas are construed as 'down wind' varies, based on the wind speed and direction.

Health and Environmental Effects of SO2

Sulfur dioxide is irritating to the eyes, nose, throat and respiratory tract. Short-term exposure to elevated levels of SO2 may cause inflammation and irritation, resulting in burning of the eyes, coughing, difficulty in breathing and a feeling of chest tightness. Prolonged or repeated exposure to higher levels of SO2 may be dangerous to children and to people with any pre-existing respiratory or heart conditions.

SO2 also contributes to the formation of acid rain, which can damage trees, gardens, landscaping, and crops. Acid rain can make the soil acidic.

Hawaii County Civil Defense says that in the event that SO2 reaches the red or purple level, information will be given to the public utilizing all means available, including radio stations and field units. Here is the link to the Hawaii County Civil Defense web page, where such notices are posted: Hawaii County Civil Defense Messages.

Vog Haze

According to the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), SO2 reacts with other chemicals in the air to form tiny sulfate particles. Haze occurs when light is scattered or absorbed by particles and gases in the air, reducing visibility. In the case of vog, it is important to note that the SO2 component usually diminishes with distance from the volcano. Even if the vog haze looks heavy, it does not necessarily mean there is a high concentration of SO2 in the haze. Conversely, SO2 levels can be high even though the vog haze is light. Heavy vog haze does mean higher levels of particulate matter and smoke.

Hawaii Civil Defense lists these symptoms that can arise from exposure to vog haze: headaches; breathing difficulties; increased susceptibility to respiratory ailments; watery eyes; sore throat. The EPA notes that when particles are breathed in, they gather in the lungs and are associated with increased respiratory symptoms and disease, difficulty in breathing, and premature death.

Ash Fall Hazards

Volcanic ash is composed of tiny rock particles emitted during eruption. The particles can range in size from grit to a very fine powder. Ash particles can be inhaled, causing chest discomfort, wheezing, and coughing. Other symptoms of ash inhalation: runny nose; sore throat; difficulty breathing; and worsening of pre-existing respiratory conditions.

More online resources:

• Kilauea Status Reports - daily info from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, including current emissions rates


• Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park Current Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Conditions - National Park Service report on current conditions, with map showing the direction of the gas plumes from Kilauea vents


• Air Quality in the Hawaiian Islands - Maps showing air quality data from the Hawaii State Department of Health (Note: Java scripts - may take awhile to load)


• What Is Vog? - information page prepared by the KonaWeb online community


• How Sulfur Dioxide Affects the Way We Live - EPA information on health and environmental impact


• Air Quality Guide for Particle Pollution - Key Facts from the EPA


• Volcanic Ash - Effects on Water Supply and Mitigation Strategies - information from the USGS


• Kilauea Eruption Update - information from the County of Hawaii, including FAQs


• Halema'uma'u Web Cam - live panorama shot of Kilauea summit


• Pu'u O'o Web Cam - live panorama shot of the east rift zone of Kilauea


• New Activity on Kilauea - regularly updated satellite photos of the Hawaiian Islands and the vog plume, from NASA


• Kilauea SO2 Graphic - chart that maps the location of the SO2 plume from Kilauea volcano for the current date, and three preceding dates, from NOAA Satellite and Information Service

Please use the comments section at the end of this post to let me know of resources you may know about that haven't been included here. I will add more items to the list as I find them.

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Note: I have been blogging about Kilauea volcano and the vog since March of 2008. To read more of what I have written on these subjects, click here.

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]

Blogging the Vog

Earlier today I checked the traffic statistics for this blog, and I was pleased to see an upsurge in the number of visitors over the past few weeks. Then I noticed something disheartening about that increase in traffic. Most of the traffic was coming from search, and nearly all of the search terms had something to do with Kilauea volcano and its emissions. More specifically, judging from the search terms that brought readers here, people were looking for information about the vog (i.e., volcano smog) created by Kilauea's emissions, and its potential effects on their health.

Earlier this month I published an article here called Living with Hawaii's Active Volcano Can Leave You Breathless, in which I wrote about my own experience of health problems due to vog. Over the past few weeks, there have been more visits to that one article than to all of the rest of the articles on this blog combined. The runner up, by the way, was a related article I wrote in March, called Living with Hawaii's Active Volcano: Introduction.

Since there seems to be a lot of interest, I have decided to compile a list of resources about Kilauea and the vog, which I will publish soon here on the Virtual Scratchpad. If any readers have suggestions for what should be included on the forthcoming resource page, you are welcome to leave a comment to let me know.

Meanwhile, here is an update on the current vog situation on the Big Island:

This week we have been experiencing very light winds, a condition that has allowed the vog to settle over the island and accumulate, instead of blowing out to sea. On Wednesday, April 23, 2008, the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was closed for the second time in less than a month because sulfur dioxide (SO2) levels had reached potentially dangerous levels. Some 2,000 visitors and staff were evacuated from the park. At this writing, the park remains closed, although local news reports said earlier today that the park may be reopened by this afternoon

There were no evacuations from residential areas, however the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency issued several Emergency Health Advisories, broadcast on the radio and posted to the agency's website, warning residents in some communities of higher than normal levels of vog, and of SO2 in particular. For example, here is an excerpt from an advisory issued early this morning [Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency - Emergency Health Advisory #17, April 25, 2008, 06:00HST]:

• Volcano Golf and Country Club Estates remains on a Color Code RED status. Under Color Code RED those in sensitive groups should avoid outdoor activity and remain indoors, healthy individuals should avoid outdoor activity, and people experiencing respiratory related health effects should consider leaving the area.
• Volcano Village, Mauna Loa Estates, Ohia Estates, Royal Hawaiian Estates, Hawaiian Orchid Island Estates and Fern Forest subdivision are on Color Code Orange status. Under Color Code ORANGE potential health effects are not expected in healthy individuals, however, those in sensitive groups should avoid outdoor activity and remain indoors.
• The district of Ka’u and the communities of Upper Puna from Keaa’u to the 19 mile marker on Highway 11 are on Color Code YELLOW status. Under Color Code YELLOW those in sensitive groups should avoid outdoor activity.
• The district of lower Puna, from Keaau to Kalapana remains in Color Code GREEN. All other districts remain in Color Code GREEN.

I would like to note that the above health advisory refers to elevated levels of sulfur dioxide, which is only one component of vog (albeit potentially the most harmful). The advisory does not fully reflect overall vog conditions. While there is no advisory specified today for the Kohala Coast, where I live, vog definitely is present and heavier than usual.

Here at home, I have my own visual vog-level scale, based on what I can see -- and what I can't. I have a view to the ocean outside the window next to my desk. On no-vog days, I can see the ocean surface clearly, all the way to the horizon. On light vog days, I can still see the ocean, but the horizon is not well-defined. On heavy vog days like today, I cannot see the ocean; I can only see a whitish haze. While looking horizontally in any direction, structures and physical features more than about a quarter to a half mile away either are shadowy, or can't be seen at all.

On days like this, it is a small relief to know that the SO2 component of the vog is not high in my district, but that doesn't mean there is no vog: The reduced visibility outside tells the story. The National Weather Service forecasts light winds and "haze through the night" tonight, with winds becoming northerly at around 10 mph tomorrow afternoon. One can only hope that will be enough wind to blow the vog back out to sea.

About the Photo: A gas-and-ash plume emitted from Halemaumau crater at the Kilauea summit blows toward the southwest, driven by trade winds. This USGS photo was taken on April 18, 2008. To view more photos of Kilauea, visit the Kilauea Images page on the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website.

Living with Hawaii's Active Volcano Can Leave You Breathless

This is the second in a series of articles about living near Kilauea, Hawaii's most active volcano. In the previous post, I mentioned that Kilauea, which has been erupting continuously since early 1983, recently had entered a more vigorous eruptive phase.

Kilauea's usual style of erupting is to ooze lava more or less continuously from several vents. Typically, the lava first pools near the vent; eventually the pools overflow, sending rivers of lava down the flanks of the volcano to the sea. In addition, the volcano emits steam and gases, which diffuse into the atmosphere as aerosols, i.e. tiny droplets.

Among the gas emissions are several that are potentially toxic, most notably, sulfur dioxide (SO2). Kilauea also emits considerable amounts of carbon dioxide, plus smaller amounts of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide, and hydrogen chloride. Gas emissions mix with smoke and particulate matter from the volcano to form a kind of smog. Here in Hawaii, this volcano-generated smog is called "vog."

Vog is Hawaii's dirty little secret. When the prevailing northeast trade winds are blowing, most of Kilauea's vog plume goes out to sea, where it diffuses further over the open ocean, and eventually passes into the upper atmosphere. When the winds are light, however, or blowing onshore, various parts of the island become blanketed with vog.

Sometimes the vog is barely perceptible; at other times it can be so thick that it forms a visible haze in the air. When it is at its worst, it actually smells bad -- but worse still, it poses a health hazard to people, pets, livestock and wildlife, and can damage plant life.

The greatest vog hazard comes from the SO2 component, which can irritate mucous membranes. Those of us who live here can tell when the concentration of SO2 in the air is on the rise. Our throats get scratchy, our eyes itch, and the insides of our noses burn whenever we spend any time outdoors. Some people (myself included) get mild but frequent nosebleeds during voggy periods. Those with preexisting asthma and pulmonary disorders have even more difficulty breathing than they usually do.

Many residents become sensitized to the vog over time, and develop persistent respiratory disorders. I became one of those in the late 1990s, during an episode of increased volcanic emissions. During this period the vog reached notable levels, and stayed that way for weeks. I was spending a lot of time outdoors, in my garden and at the beach, oblivious to the damage that was being done to my respiratory system until it was too late.

First I developed a sore throat and a mild cough -- annoying, but not serious, I thought. Then one day I woke up with a fever. My mild cough got worse, and I began to wheeze. I made an appointment with my doctor, and by the time I got there the wheeze had progressed to a sort of gurgle, and I felt like I was not getting enough air. That is not a nice feeling!

It turned out that I had bronchitis and pneumonia, all at once. Apparently what happens is that the SO2 (and perhaps the hydrogen chloride -- which mixes with water vapor to form an aerosol of hydrochloric acid) irritates the mucous membranes in the nose and throat, making them inflamed and raw, and giving opportunistic infections a perfect medium for growth. Bingo! You're done for.

I spent more than a week in bed, with a HEPA air filter running continuously in the room. I recovered with the help of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and an inhaled bronchodilator. Fortunately, the vog dissipated while I was recovering.

Ever since that experience, I am more sensitive to vog. I keep an inhaler on hand at all times now, and on a number of occasion I have had to make use of it when my bronchial tubes constricted and I began to wheeze. When there is a lot of vog, I stay indoors as much as possible, with the air-conditioning and HEPA filters running full tilt. Several times over the past decade -- and twice during recent months -- I have left the island for a week at a time, just to get away from the vog. In this respect, I am more fortunate than some who suffer from the vog. I have the means to leave, and somewhere to go. Many other people are not so fortunate.

The bright side of this situation has been that, for most of the past 25 years, the level of vog-producing emissions from Kilauea has been moderate, i.e., below harmful levels, for most of the Big Island. The situation changed last month when a new vent opened in Halemaumau Crater at Kilauea's main caldera. The vent began to spew prodigious amounts of steam and gas -- mostly SO2.

Reports from the Hawaii Volcano Observatory, summarized on the Kilauea page of the Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program website, had this to say:

Sulfur dioxide emission rates from the summit area have been elevated at 2-4 times background values since early January.

The emission rate abruptly increased on 12 March and fluctuated between 1,600-2,500 tonnes per day during 12-16 March, compared to a background rate of 150-200 tonnes per day.

On 16 March, emission rates reached 2,500 tonnes per day, the highest recorded at Kilauea's summit since measurements began in 1979.

Then, in the wee hours of March 19, 2008, there was an explosive eruption in Halemaumau Crater, which scattered debris over an area of about 75 acres. This was Kilauea's first explosive event since 1924.

Since that time, Kilauea has continued to produce high levels of gas emissions, steam and ash, and SO2 emissions remained well above 'background' rates of 150-200 tonnes per day.

• 18-23 March: 1,200 - 2,200 tonnes per day
• 26-31 March: 700-1,500 tonnes per day

Although emissions have diminished somewhat from their mid-March peak, they are still at least ten times greater than background rates.

No one can say how much longer SO2 and other gases will continue to be emitted at these high rates. No one knows if the situation will improve, worsen, or remain stable. All of us here on the Big Island are paying close attention to Kilauea. We are paying attention as well to the direction and strength of the wind as summer approaches. In summer, the trade winds typically diminish, allowing whatever vog is produced to settle over the island instead of being blown out to sea. This year, that could present an intolerable situation. I may be spending the summer of 2008 away from Hawaii.

About the Photo: Big Island Mayor Harry Kim, and Danny Ziemann of the National Park Service at a press briefing on the recent increase in SO2 emissions, as Halemaumau Crater spouted fumes behind them. Honolulu Star-Bulletin, March 27, 2008.

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More information:

Kilauea's Halemaumau Crater web cam - Hawaii Volcano Observatory

Volcanic Gases and Their Effects - USGS

Long-lasting Eruption of Kilauea Volcano, Hawai`i Leads to Volcanic-Air Pollution - USGS

Explosive eruption in Halema`uma`u Crater, Kilauea Volcano, is first since 1924 - USGS HVO News Release, March 19, 2008

Kilauea Weekly Volcanic Activity Reports - Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution

Living with Hawaii's Active Volcano: Introduction

This is the first in a series of articles about living near Kilauea, Hawaii's most active volcano. Kilauea has entered a particularly vigorous eruptive phase that already is affecting the health and well-being of some nearby residents;it has the potential to disrupt thousands of lives in the near future.

I live on the Big Island of Hawaii, the southernmost and easternmost of all the Hawaiian islands. Geologically, the Big Island is comprised of five volcanoes melded together. The volcanoes dominate the landscape here. Historically they have determined or influenced everything from the island's various microclimates and weather, to the fertility of the island's soil.

I live on the western slope of one of those five volcanoes, Kohala, which is extinct. Another volcano on this island, Mauna Kea, last erupted thousands of years ago. It is considered to be 'dormant.' In other words, although it is quiet now, Mauna Kea is believed to be still capable of erupting again.

There are three active volcanoes on the island: Hualalai, Mauna Loa, and Kilauea. Hualalai last erupted more than 200 years ago, but geoscientists say that this volcano is likely to erupt again some time in the next 100 years. Mauna Loa has erupted 33 times since the mid-nineteenth century. It last erupted in 1984, and is monitored daily for signs that another eruption is about to commence.

That's Mauna Loa in the picture at right. I took the photo in January of 2006. You can see that it has some snow on its summit. Both Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea are snowcapped every winter, usually from some time in late November until some time in March.

Then there is Kilauea. Described by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as "perhaps the world's most active volcano," Kilauea has been erupting continuously since January of 1983. The USGS also tells us that "it will surely continue to erupt through the rest of human history."

Lava oozes with little interruption from Kilauea's multiple vents, and flows for many miles down the slopes of the volcano to the ocean. Occasionally more dramatic events, called 'fountaining', cause jets of lava from fissures to shoot hundreds of feet into the air, a truly spectacular sight.

Kilauea is the centerpiece of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and the park itself is considered a 'must see' for visitors to the Big Island. In addition to viewing areas from which visitors can see the current lava flows, the park has many hiking trails. One of those, called Devastation Trail, is pictured at left. The trail runs through an area that was a forest -- until it was devastated by falling cinder during a 1959 eruption from a vent known as Kilauea lki.

For those of us who live here, the volcanoes are much more than a tourist attraction -- especially Kilauea. This volcano currently is emitting more than lava, and it is those emissions that are most worrying to island residents.

Kilauea emits steam, ash, and a mixture of gases, some of which are potentially toxic. The volume of emissions, and the concentration of toxic gases has increased dramatically in recent weeks, a situation that has serious public health implications. Parts of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park have had to be closed to visitors, and high levels of sulfur dioxide and volcanic ash have been detected in the air of residential communities downwind of the eruption.

Kilauea's emissions are creating a health hazard in a much wider area as well. Although the situation in other communities still is less urgent than in areas directly downwind of the volcano, conditions could worsen with just a shift in wind direction, we are told.

In the next post, I will elaborate on the nature of the health risks from Kilauea's emissions, some of which I face myself, and I will explain why concern about the world's most active volcano is growing to new levels among Hawaii's residents.

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For more information about these volcanoes, visit the Hawaiian Volcanoes page on the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website, run by the U.S. Geological Survey.