In This Article
30-Second Summary
Headline Link: Kilauea's Halemaumau Crater erupts in two places
Background: The Kilauea Volcano and its effects
Reactions: Rangers and officials wary, tourism industry unfazed
Historical Context: Past eruptions at Kilauea
Related Topic: Volcanic eruption affecting flower prices
Reference: Volcanic activity on the Big Island and Kilauea Volcano
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Hawaiian Crater Erupts, Spews Hazardous Ash
May 16, 2008 3:17 PM
by
findingDulcinea Staff
Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii has begun emitting dangerous ash in addition to the toxic gas it has been releasing for two months.
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Kilauea Volcano in the Halemaumau Crater has been erupting since March 11, but has recently begun spewing ash in addition to plume, the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volvano Observatory (HVO) reports.
According to the HVO, Kilauea has recently begun releasing "a white (gray or brownish if not directly illuminated) plume … from the vent in Halema'uma'u Crater." Thursday night, the plume "was lofting approximately 1,000 m (3,000 ft) straight up before being blown to the southwest" and left "a light dusting" of ash on surfaces in the area.
One of the active vents began to glow on March 12, then spewed older, exploded rocks on March 19. Within the last couple of days, “Pele’s hair” (thin strands of solidified lava), and “Pele’s tears” (droplets of lava rock) have erupted from the volcano as well.
Despite the addtion of ash to the eruptions, only one part of the Hawaii Volcanos National Park has been closed in response to Kilauea's activity. According to "Hawaii's Big Island" tourist Web site, tradewinds carry the noxious sulfer dioxide released along with the volcanic ash down the Kona coast, keeping the park's air clean.
Tourists have not been fazed by the eruptions. “People are here and our parking lots are full … but the view of the ash-laden plume blasting out of Halemaumau more than makes up for it," said Mardie Lane, a ranger at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park two months ago. Tourists have observed the most recent activity from outlooks at the Thomas A. Jaggar Museum.
But some health and safety issues have concerned park rangers and aviation officials since the volcanic eruptions began in March—even before ash emerged from the crater. One major concern is that even mildly corrosive volcanic ash consists of tiny fragments of rock and glass that can cause power outages when released into the air.
In addition, sulfur dioxide is emitted as a gas but then condenses into an aerosol, which in high concentrations can irritate the bronchial tubes and cause asthma attacks when inhaled.
The 2008 activity marks the first time Halemaumau has erupted since 1968, though other parts of Kilauea have been active recently. The Puuoo crater in the east rift has had small eruption activity since 1983.
According to the HVO, Kilauea has recently begun releasing "a white (gray or brownish if not directly illuminated) plume … from the vent in Halema'uma'u Crater." Thursday night, the plume "was lofting approximately 1,000 m (3,000 ft) straight up before being blown to the southwest" and left "a light dusting" of ash on surfaces in the area.
One of the active vents began to glow on March 12, then spewed older, exploded rocks on March 19. Within the last couple of days, “Pele’s hair” (thin strands of solidified lava), and “Pele’s tears” (droplets of lava rock) have erupted from the volcano as well.
Despite the addtion of ash to the eruptions, only one part of the Hawaii Volcanos National Park has been closed in response to Kilauea's activity. According to "Hawaii's Big Island" tourist Web site, tradewinds carry the noxious sulfer dioxide released along with the volcanic ash down the Kona coast, keeping the park's air clean.
Tourists have not been fazed by the eruptions. “People are here and our parking lots are full … but the view of the ash-laden plume blasting out of Halemaumau more than makes up for it," said Mardie Lane, a ranger at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park two months ago. Tourists have observed the most recent activity from outlooks at the Thomas A. Jaggar Museum.
But some health and safety issues have concerned park rangers and aviation officials since the volcanic eruptions began in March—even before ash emerged from the crater. One major concern is that even mildly corrosive volcanic ash consists of tiny fragments of rock and glass that can cause power outages when released into the air.
In addition, sulfur dioxide is emitted as a gas but then condenses into an aerosol, which in high concentrations can irritate the bronchial tubes and cause asthma attacks when inhaled.
The 2008 activity marks the first time Halemaumau has erupted since 1968, though other parts of Kilauea have been active recently. The Puuoo crater in the east rift has had small eruption activity since 1983.
Headline Link: Kilauea's Halemaumau Crater erupts in two places
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory presented by the U.S. Geological Survey shows that Hawaii’s Kilauea Volcano has been active at two locations within the last 24 hours. According to the report, “small amounts of ash and elevated amounts of sulfur dioxide continued to erupt from the Halema’uma’u vent.” In addition, lava has erupted from the east rift site, flowing through tubes to the ocean.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Background: The Kilauea Volcano and its effects
March 25, 2008 marked the first time since 1968 that there has been this type of eruption from inside Halemaumau. “It's sort of like spitting,” said Jim Kauahikaha, scientist in charge at the Hawaiian Volcanic Observatory when activity began two months ago. “There's just not that much of it in volume, but the significance is that the stuff that came out on the 19th was all older exploded stuff."
Source: Honolulu CBS affiliate KGMB
U.S. Geological Survey hosts a panoramic view of Kilauea Volcano.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Volcanic ash consists of fragments of rock and glass. It conducts electricity when wet, is insoluble in water and is mildly corrosive. Falling ash can leave an area in complete darkness, both by blocking the sunlight and causing power outages.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Sulfur dioxide has long been a risk for people living near Kilauea Volcano. It is emitted as a gas then condenses into an aerosol, forming tiny particles. At higher concentrations it can cause bronchial irritation and spark asthma attacks.
Source: Science Daily
Reactions: Rangers and officials wary, tourism industry unfazed
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park have been busy despite —or perhaps because of—the eruptions. In March, Park ranger Mardie Lane said, “People are here and our parking lots are full … but the view of the ash-laden plume blasting out of Halemaumau more than makes up for it.” The Federal Aviation Administration’s Ian Gregor said pilots were advised last week not to fly below 1,000 feet because of the sulfur dioxide. If the ash were to rise higher, “we could fairly quickly implement a flight restriction around the area that would keep all air traffic out of there for safety reasons," he said.
Source: The Honolulu Advertiser
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park education specialist Joni Mae Makuakane-Jarrell half jokingly said she thought about parking her car so it would face the park exit. "Personally, it's exciting, but on the flip side, it's a little bit intimidating,” she said of the eruption in March.
Source: Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Hawaii's Big Island tourist Web site explained that despite the volcanic activity, only one strip of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has been closed. According to the site, "The excellent overlook at the Thomas A. Jaggar Museum is open, and will remain so as long as the conditions permit. Visitors can also still get stunning views of the heavy plume of steam and gas from the wall at Volcano House hotel and along the adjacent trail."
Source: Hawaii's Big Island
Historical Context: Past eruptions at Kilauea
The first recorded eruption at Kilauea was in 1790, and the volcano has been active since. A lake of lava at the summit flowed mildly until a massive explosion in 1924. From then until 1955, there were a number of short eruptions from the summit. There was also a series of rift eruptions from 1969 to 1974 at the Mauna Ulu crater and at the Puuoo crater from 1983 to the present.
Source: University of Hawaii
Kilauea had a resurgence of activity in 1924. The largest eruption happened on May 18 of that year, when a column of ash erupted four miles into the air, “like a menacing genie from the Arabian Nights,” writes the U.S. Geological Service.
Source: U.S. Geological Service
Related Topic: Volcanic eruption affecting flower prices
FindingDulcinea reports on the spike in the cost of flowers due, in part, to Kilauea's eruption: "Prices for tropical varietals may skyrocket further because of sulfur dioxide emissions from a new crater on Kilauea Volcano."
Source: findingDulcinea
Reference: Volcanic activity on the Big Island and Kilauea Volcano
“Hawaii is an example of how plumes create islands. Hot, solid rock rises to the hot spot from greater depths. Due to the lower pressure at the shallower depth, the rock begins to melt, forming magma. The magma rises through the Pacific Plate to supply the active volcanoes. The older islands were once located above the stationary hot spot but were carried away as the Pacific Plate drifted to the northwest,” according to the Australian Broadcast Company.
Source: Australian Broadcast Company
The U.S. Geological Survey says that eruptions at Kilauea are “caused when water comes into contact with hot or molten rock (magma) and flashes into steam.” The site includes illustrative diagrams.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Parts of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park are closed off because of high levels of sulfur dioxide and volcanic ash in the air. The park’s Web site has updates on Halemaumau’s activity.
Source: National Parks Service
Waiakea Intermediate School in Hilo, Hawaii, has an online tour of Kilauea Volcano and Halemaumau Crater that includes maps and photos.
Source: Waiakea Intermediate School
© 2008 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
