The Pu’u ’O’o vent on the east rift zone of Kilauea Volcano currently emits approximately 1,500 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas each day. In 2000 the Park Service and the U.S. Geological Survey began developing an SO2 advisory system at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to warn staff and visitors of unhealthy levels of the toxic gas. U.S. Geological Survey
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Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is unique in the national park system because it periodically has extremely high concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2)—far higher than any other national park or even most urban areas. Sulfur dioxide is a poisonous gas that irritates the skin and mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. The SO2 gas is emitted by the Kilauea Volcano, which has produced a steady flow of lava and gas since 1986. During the winter months when tradewinds are absent, high concentrations of SO2 often occur at Kilauea’s summit, impacting the popular Kilauea Visitor Center and Jaggar Museum. To help protect the health and safety of park visitors and employees, in 2000 an SO2 monitoring station was installed in the highly visited summit area of the park, and a notification and response plan was developed. The project was a cooperative venture among the NPS Air Resources Division, the NPS Pacific West Region Air Quality Coordinator, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. The sulfur dioxide response plan identifies a list of actions to take when SO2 concentrations reach defined levels for specified lengths of time. The primary intent of the response plan is to advise people about the SO2 hazard and to recommend measures for limiting or avoiding exposure. The response plan is currently in a trial period with changes and refinements to be made as needed. The new advisory system allows the Park Service to be proactive in efforts to protect visitor and employee health and safety during periods of volcanic air pollution. |
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This material is from Natural Resource Year in Review--2000, published by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, in May 2000 (publication D-1459)
/YearInReview/yir/yir2000/pages/02_nps_science/02_07_sidebar_so2.html
Last Updated: 06/17/2001
Direct comments on this website to jeff_selleck@nps.gov