Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency - Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association

Hawaii Volcano Eruption Update June 14, 2018

Republic of Texas — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 14:58:06 +0000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK9uuNrhjyM

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Hawaii volcano update: Alert as heavy vog BLANKETS Big Island – latest air quality index

Kat Hopps — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 14:11:18 +0000

EXPLOSIONS of ash continue to belch from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano causing “heavy vog to blanket the interior and southern parts” of Big Island. But what is the latest air quality index and what are the health hazards of vog? Here is what you need to know.

Experts from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said Kilauea’s lava flows remain extremely active and it is impossible to predict when the volatile volcano will stop erupting.

Lava flows are steadily moving westwards although they are still largely confined to the southern tip of Big Island.

But officials are just as concerned about the decreasing air quality, warning vog is being swept along larger swathes of Big Island.

An explosion on Saturday evening “produced an ash plume that rose up to 10,000 feet and dispersed”, according to Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency.

Winds have carried the volcanic smog for thousands of miles westward, reaching as far away as the western Pacific island of Guam.

Laze, a hazard steam cloud formed when lava hits seawater, is also creating air quality concerns.

What are the latest air quality index alerts?

In its latest update at 6.30pm local time on Friday (5.30am BST Saturday), Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency said: “The National Weather Service reports heavy vog is blanketing the interior and southern parts of the island, impacting Hilo and wrapping around to Kona through the weekend.”

Current conditions are classed as “unhealthy for sensitive groups” in Kailua-Kona and Ocean Views, with the trend said to be “increasing”.

The “Unhealthy for sensitive groups” level, measuring 101 to 150 in numerical value, means healthy individuals with asthma are likely to be affected as are people with lung ailments.

In the worst cases, “most asthmatics who are active outdoors are likely to experience some breathing difficulties”, according to Hawaii State Department of Health.

The air quality was at 119 on the Air Quality Index (AQI) for Kailua-Kona, at the time of writing.

Hawaii volcano update: Alert as heavy vog BLANKETS Big Island – latest air quality index

The tourist hotspot sits on the west of the island while Ocean View is in the south-west.

Mountain View, situated north of Kilauea in the Puna district where fissure eruptions are near constant, currently has a “moderate” air quality.

Why is vog so dangerous?

Vog is a carrier of life-threatening sulfur dioxide and can penetrate the skin, tissues, and membranes of the body.

Hawaii volcano update: This vog measurement map shows where the air quality levels are at risk

Hawaii volcano update: At Kilauea’s summit, ash continues to be spewed into the air

The toxic gas can cause breathing difficulties and “respiratory distress in some individuals”, according to USGS.

The scientific agency says: “Aerosol particles in vog can also penetrate deep into human lungs and, at elevated levels, can induce symptoms of asthma.

Physical complaints associated with vog exposure include headaches, breathing difficulties, increased susceptibility to respiratory ailments, watery eyes, sore throat, flu-like symptoms, and a general lack of energy.”

Vog is not only dangerous for humans but it can kill plants.

When sulphuric acid meshes with moisture on foliage, this results in a severe chemical burn that damages the plant tissue.

Plumes of vog can also cause acid rain – a danger to farmers and agricultural crops.

Source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/975175/hawaii-volcano-update-news-today-vog-big-island-kilauea-usgs

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Hawaii volcano: Concerns as lava nears geothermal plant

IKhon 2 — Tue, 22 May 2018 09:06:18 +0000

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Threat of explosive eruption from Hawaii volcano grows

CBS News — Thu, 10 May 2018 16:14:00 +0000

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First lava, now ballistic projectiles. Explosive eruptions added to list of fears for Hawaii residents

Faith Karimi and Jason Hanna, CNN — Thu, 10 May 2018 15:55:14 +0000

(CNN)Zivile Roditis has spent the last week anxiously watching the Kilauea volcano, belching and churning molten lava into her neighborhood in Leilani Estates.

Now experts fear Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano is at risk of explosive eruptions that could emit “ballistic projectiles,” the USGS says.

And concerns emerged that the lava could get near the Puna Geothermal Plant, where flammable liquids are stored, CNN affiliate Hawaii News Now reported.

“It’s really unreal,” Roditis told the affiliate this week. “Everybody just wants to hug. Thank goodness that everyone’s alive and safe.”

Hundreds of people have been evacuated in Roditis’ neighborhood, which is the ground zero of lava flow in Hawaii’s Big island. Lava from the Kilauea eruption has gobbled up streets, cars and homes, with at least 36 structures destroyed so far.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory measured a temperature of 103 degrees C (218 degrees F) at a crack in Leilani Estates on Wednesday. Temperatures were so high, it described the asphalt road as “mushy” from the heat.

The amount of land covered by lava is similar to about 100 football fields, the affiliate reported.

‘Ballistic projectiles’

The US Geological Survey on Wednesday warned of possible explosive eruptions in the coming weeks. That could happen because as lava continues to sink in a lake inside a Kilauea crater, an influx of groundwater could interact with the lava to create steam explosions.

Those forces would emit “ballistic projectiles” — as small as pebbles or weighing up to several tons. The agencies also said ash clouds would rise to greater elevations, dispensing ash over wider areas.

“At this time, we cannot say with certainty that explosive activity will occur, how large the explosions could be, or how long such explosive activity could continue,” an advisory said.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will close Friday due to the possibility of explosive steam at the summit of Kilauea volcano, according the National Park Service.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued temporary flight restrictions near Hilo due to the hazards from the volcano. The restriction ends Tuesday, according to the FAA.

“Only relief aircraft operations under direction of national park service are authorized in the airspace,” it said.

Disaster declaration

Gov. David Ige asked President Donald Trump to issue a disaster declaration for Hawaii.

The declaration would allow federal funds to flow to state and local efforts in Hawaii. The estimated cost to protect residents over the next 30 days is expected to exceed $2.9 million, according to the governor’s office.

A brief explosion Wednesday on a Kilauea crater was the result of falling rocks and not the interaction of lava with the water table, the USGS said.

Toxic gas

The Kilauea eruption last week created new volcanic vents on the ground miles east of the summit, releasing slow-moving lava and toxic gas into island communities.

Officials have warned of dangerous levels of sulfur dioxide gas.

If winds weaken, that gas and other volcanic pollutants can settle easily with moisture and dust to create a haze called volcanic smog, or “vog,” with tiny sulfuric acid droplets that can pose respiratory problems, according to the US Geological Survey.

Winds and new cracks

Trade winds could weaken Thursday and Friday, meaning the vog that’s largely been accumulating over the ocean south of the Big Island could pool over a larger portion of it, creating possible health hazards, the National Weather Service says.

At higher concentrations, vog can cause headaches and irritation to the lungs and eyes, the University of Hawaii at Hilo says.

If trade winds become lighter as predicted later this week, vog could pool northward over parts of the island by Friday, the weather service says.

Other dangers persist, not only in the form of lava but also earthquakes and newly formed cracks.

The 13th and 14th vent erupted Tuesday in the Leilani Estates area, where roughly 1,700 residents were asked to evacuate last week. At least 36 structures — including at least 26 homes — have been destroyed.

On Wednesday, a 15th vent formed — this one in the Lanipuna subdivision, the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency says.

CNN’s Monica Garrett, Phil Gast, Brandon Miller, Chris Boyette, Judson Jones and Darran Simon contributed to this report.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/10/us/hawaii-kilauea-volcano/index.html

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