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| Kilauea: Fresh eruptions from Hawaii volcano | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: 4 May 2018, 11:15 PM (94 Views) | |
| skibboy | 4 May 2018, 11:15 PM Post #1 |
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Kilauea: Fresh eruptions from Hawaii volcano 1 hour ago ![]() The USGS said "vigorous lava spattering" was happening Fresh eruptions sending fountains of lava 30m (100ft) out of the ground have taken place on Hawaii's Big Island, destroying several homes. The Civil Defense Agency said there were fissures on three streets and told any remaining residents to evacuate. It said there were deadly levels of dangerous sulphur dioxide gas in the air and emergency crews would not be able to help anyone affected. The new activity comes a day after Kilauea volcano erupted. The new volcanic activity in Mt Kilauea's lower east rift zone amounted to "vigorous lava spattering", the US Geological Survey (USGS) said, adding that additional outbreaks in the area were likely. The lava was not travelling more than a "few tens of yards" from the vents, which were on streets in the Leilani Estates neighbourhood near Big Island's eastern tip, the USGS said. However ground deformation was continuing and there was high earthquake activity in the area, it said. Meanwhile the level of the lava lake inside the volcano was continuing to drop. Two homes had been destroyed in the latest activity, ABC quoted Hawaii island Mayor Harry Kim as saying. Residents described fleeing their homes on Thursday evening. "My family is safe, the rest of the stuff can be replaced. When I bought here 14 years [ago], I knew that this day would eventually come. But the reality is sinking in now," one resident told Hawaii News Now. ![]() Steaming cracks appeared moments before a fissure opened early on Friday morning Thursday's eruption prompted a local state of emergency and the mandatory evacuation of 1,700 residents. Community centres have been opened to provide shelter for evacuees. Kilauea is one of the world's most active volcanoes and the eruption follows a series of recent earthquakes. Officials had been warning residents all week they should be prepared to evacuate as an eruption would give little warning. A volcanic crater vent - known as Puu Oo - collapsed earlier this week, sending lava down the mountain's slopes towards populated areas. Hawaii's Governor, David Ige, said he had activated military reservists from the National Guard to help evacuate thousands of people. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 'Like someone playing the bass really heavy' Maija Stenback, eyewitness We live in Leilani Estates, about six blocks away from the eruption. We were evacuated a couple of hours ago and we are now with friends. Within about half an hour of the eruption, it was on social media, so me and my daughter went down to look at it. You could hear and feel the eruption a good half a mile away, and the closer you got, the more you could feel it. It was like when someone plays the bass really heavy, and you can feel the bass - you could really feel the power and the lava - the colour was unbelievable, and the sound was unbelievable. It sounds very explosive... It's spitting out as hard as it can. It's not so much what you hear, it's what you feel. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Earlier this year, a false alert warning of an incoming ballistic missile caused panic, leading the US state to reassess its alert system. ![]() Source: .com
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| skibboy | 5 May 2018, 11:56 PM Post #2 |
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Kilauea: Earthquakes follow eruptions from Hawaii volcano 8 hours ago A number of strong earthquakes have hit Hawaii's Big Island, a day after the eruption of the Kilauea volcano. One 6.9 magnitude quake, south-east of the volcano, was the most powerful to hit the US state since 1975. It briefly cut power and sent people fleeing from buildings but there was no tsunami warning. Meanwhile, several fresh eruptions spewed fountains of lava 30m (100ft), destroying several homes and leaving fissures on three streets. The Civil Defense Agency told any remaining residents to evacuate. It said there were deadly levels of dangerous sulphur dioxide gas in the air and emergency crews would not be able to help anyone affected. The new volcanic activity in Mt Kilauea's lower east rift zone amounted to "vigorous lava spattering", the US Geological Survey (USGS) said, adding that additional outbreaks in the area were likely. ![]() The USGS said "vigorous lava spattering" was happening The lava was not travelling more than a "few tens of yards" from the vents, which were on streets in the Leilani Estates neighbourhood near Big Island's eastern tip, the USGS said. However, ground deformation was continuing and there was high earthquake activity in the area, it said. Meanwhile, the level of the lava lake inside the volcano was continuing to drop. Two homes were destroyed in the latest activity, ABC quoted Hawaii island Mayor Harry Kim as saying. Maija Stenback, an eyewitness, told the BBC the eruption "was like when someone plays the bass really heavy: you could really feel the power and the lava". "The colour was unbelievable, and the sound was unbelievable," she said. "You could hear and feel the eruption a good half a mile away, and the closer you got, the more you could feel it." Residents described fleeing their homes on Thursday evening. "My family is safe, the rest of the stuff can be replaced. When I bought here 14 years [ago], I knew that this day would eventually come. But the reality is sinking in now," one resident told Hawaii News Now. A spokesperson for Hawaii's Mayor, Janet Snyder, said "elevated levels" of sulphur dioxide were stopping people returning to evacuated areas. "It is quite toxic and in fact, even our first responders find it too hazardous at this time to go back into the sub-divisions without heavy, protective equipment," she said. ![]() Steaming cracks appeared moments before a fissure opened early on Friday morning Thursday's eruption prompted a local state of emergency and the mandatory evacuation of 1,700 residents. Community centres have been opened to provide shelter for evacuees. Kilauea is one of the world's most active volcanoes and the eruption follows a series of recent earthquakes. Officials had been warning residents all week they should be prepared to evacuate as an eruption would give little warning. A volcanic crater vent - known as Puu Oo - collapsed earlier this week, sending lava down the mountain's slopes towards populated areas. Dr Dougal Jerram, an earth scientist at the University of Oslo, told the BBC that the quake had "occurred in the middle of a housing estate effectively, erupting through the roads, with magma shooting 30 metres up into the sky". Hawaii's Governor, David Ige, said he had activated military reservists from the National Guard to help evacuate thousands of people. Source: .com
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| skibboy | 7 May 2018, 11:51 PM Post #3 |
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Kilauea: Hawaii volcano destroys dozens of homes 2 hours ago The eruption of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii has destroyed a total of 35 structures - mostly homes - and is threatening hundreds more. Nearly 2,000 people have so far been evacuated. Some residents were allowed home to rescue pets, but authorities said it was not safe to stay. New fissures and vents opened overnight in the Leilani Estates area, where lava leapt up to 230ft (70m) into the air. The island was hit by a powerful 6.9 magnitude earthquake on Friday. "When I evacuated on Thursday, I pretty much said goodbye because I have lived here a long time and seen what the lava does," local resident Ikaika Marzo told the BBC. "I think it's just important for everybody just to be realistic." Brenton Awa, another resident, said: "Knowing that these pets are still in cages, or in fences, or in chains without food makes my heart sore a little bit. "That's one of the reasons we went in to feed some of the pets. It is just sad." Kilauea is one of the world's most active volcanoes and has been in constant eruption for 35 years. ![]() Authorities say the fire has destroyed 26 homes on the island and is threatening hundreds more ![]() Fissures and vents in the Leilani Estates area have spewed lava around homes More than $35,000 (£26,000) has been raised for a primary school teacher who has "lost everything" in the Leilani Estates lava flow. Amber Makuakane, a single mother-of-two evacuated on Friday carrying rubbish bags full of clothing and important documents, according to the fundraiser set up by her colleagues at Pahoa Elementary School. "We are asking for donations to help her rebuild. If you know Amber, you know that she has the biggest heart and is always willing to help," the page said. "She is not one who will ask for help, but we feel that she needs our support in this tragic time." The Hawaii State Teachers Association confirmed her employment, and said a lava fissure opened up directly below her home, where she had lived for nine years. "I honestly don't know where to begin or what to say, other than… MAHALO! MAHALO MAHALO!," Ms Makuakane said on GoFundMe, using a Hawaiian word meaning thanks. ![]() Ten separate fissures have torn open the neighbourhood, about 40km from the volcano's crater ![]() Some residents were allowed home to rescue pets after filling out forms. About 2,000 have been evacuated ![]() Many are staying in emergency shelters, with no idea when they will be allowed to return home ![]() The volcano erupted on Friday, following a magnitude 6.9 earthquake ![]() Kilauea is one of the world's most active volcanoes and has been in constant eruption for 35 years Source: .com
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| skibboy | 9 May 2018, 12:42 AM Post #4 |
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08 May 2018 Volcanic activity pauses at Hawaii crater but more eruptions expected ![]() © US Geological Survey/AFP | Steam rising from a fissure on Moku Street in the Leilani Estates, Hawaii LEILANI ESTATES (UNITED STATES) (AFP) - Volcanic activity from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano paused on Tuesday, authorities said, while warning that more outbreaks should be anticipated. The US Geological Survey said two new fissures broke ground on Monday near Leilani Estates, spewing lava and hazardous fumes. It added that though the eruption had paused early Tuesday, gas continues to emanate from a fissure system that is now 2.5 miles (four kilometers) long -- and more seismic activity and lava flow was expected. "This pause is likely temporary and resumption of lava emission or additional fissure outbreaks are possible at any time," the USGS said in a statement. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said that since the volcano began erupting last Thursday, 12 fissures have emerged and 35 structures, including 26 homes, have been destroyed. Authorities said residents of Leilani Estates subdivision, located in the Puna district, are being allowed to check on their property and retrieve personal items during the day but are advised to leave the area by 6:00 pm. Residents of Lanipuna Gardens, another neighborhood evacuated, are not being allowed access to their homes, however, due to dangerous volcanic gases, the Hawaii County Civil Defense said in a statement. Some 1,700 residents of the communities of Leilani Estate and the smaller Lanipuna Gardens were ordered to evacuate the area last Thursday amid threats of fires and dangerous levels of toxic fumes. Authorities on Tuesday said some 200 people were still sheltering at two centers and were being assisted by the Red Cross. Kilauea, one of the most active volcanos in the world and one of five on the island, began erupting Thursday afternoon. A magnitude 5 earthquake under its south flank preceded an initial eruption. Several severe aftershocks have occurred since then. A quake Friday was measured at magnitude 6.9, the most powerful to hit the islands since 1975. Source: .com
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| skibboy | 17 May 2018, 11:19 PM Post #5 |
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Hawaii's Kilauea: Explosive eruption at volcano 1 hour ago An explosive eruption at Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano has sent ash 30,000ft (9,100m) into the sky. The US Geological Survey says the eruption took place at 04:15 local time (14:15 GMT). Staff at the volcano observatory and the national park had previously been evacuated. Since a new zone of Kilauea began erupting almost two weeks ago, lava has wrecked dozens of homes and forced hundreds of people to be evacuated. ![]() National Guard soldiers in Hawaii sought protection from ash and volcanic gases A red aviation code had already been issued - warning pilots to avoid the potentially damaging ash cloud. The USGS had warned that an explosive eruption at Kilauea was becoming more likely as the volcano's lava lake was lowering. This increases the risk of highly explosive steam-powered eruptions as the magma meets underground water. Hawaii's emergency management agency advised people in the area affected by ash to stay in their homes if possible. Kilauea is one of five active volcanoes on the island of Hawaii. It is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and has been erupting continuously, though not explosively, for more than 30 years. Its last explosive eruption took place in 1924. Even before Thursday morning's explosive eruption, the ash plume from the volcano could be seen from the International Space Station. ![]() Source: .com
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| skibboy | 19 May 2018, 12:17 AM Post #6 |
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Hawaii volcano summit erupts, residents urged to take shelter![]() © AFP | Lava illuminates volcanic gases (L) from the Kilauea volcano near fissure 13 on Hawaii's Big Island on May 16 2018-05-18 Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupted from its summit early Thursday, shooting a huge plume of ash miles into the sky and prompting authorities to urge area residents to take cover. The Hawaii Volcano Observatory said the explosion within one of the volcano's craters had produced a volcanic cloud reaching as high as 30,000 feet (9,000 meters) and was drifting northeast. "At any time, activity may again become more explosive, increasing the intensity of ash production and producing ballistic projectiles near the vent," it said in a statement. The observatory said residents living along the path of the ash plume should take shelter, and maintained a code red aviation alert signaled on Tuesday, meaning no air traffic was permitted in the area. Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and one of five on Hawaii's Big Island. The latest burst comes two days after Kilauea sent another massive plume of volcanic ash spewing into the sky. Scientists say the volcanic activity may be a precursor to a major eruption similar to the explosions at Kilauea in 1925. About 2,000 people were forced to evacuate from residential areas after the volcano erupted on May 3 following a series of earthquakes. So far, some 40 homes and other buildings have been destroyed by the red-hot lava that has been flowing from the volcano. Source: .com
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| skibboy | 20 May 2018, 12:03 AM Post #7 |
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Hawaii's Kilauea: Volcano's dramatic images explained 19 May 2018 ![]() Lava burst from the ground in Kapoho on Thursday, two weeks after the first eruption In early May, one of Hawaii's active volcanoes - which helped create the islands - erupted. Volcanic gases have been erupting from fissures ever since, producing dramatic photographs and video. Two weeks later, it is still erupting. Here, volcanologists Tamsin Mather and David Pyle from Oxford University explain what's happening beneath the surface. Creation and destruction Kīlauea volcano is the most active volcano on Hawaii's Big Island. There has been an ongoing eruption to the east of the summit in the East Rift Zone since 1983, mainly centred around the Pu'u 'Ō'ō vent. ![]() 3 May: Ash spews from the Pu'u 'Ō'ō crater, as it erupts after an earthquake Lava fountains and flows have covered more than 144 sq km and added more than 443 acres of new land to the island. As of 2016, lava flows had already destroyed 215 structures and buried 14.3 km of roads. The crater's lava lake In 2008 a new gas vent opened up at Kīlauea's summit in the Halema'uma'u crater. Over the following months and years, this slowly developed into a lava lake. ![]() 6 May: The summit lava lake, which had dropped in level During March and April this year the lava level rose, and lava began to spill out across the crater floor. Just two weeks later, the lava had dropped out of sight. ![]() 9 May: A plume rises from the Halema'uma'u crater, lit by the lava lake below A creeping lava flow Kīlauea lavas are among the hottest on Earth. After magma spills out of the fissure, the surface quickly crusts over, forming a shell. Inside, though, the lava is still red hot - and mobile. ![]() A road in Leilani Estates blocked by what was once flowing molten lava on 13 May As the whole mass of lava creeps forward, the blocks and plates of cooled lava are carried along, giving the whole the appearance of a jumble of loose blocks. In places, fresh lava breaks out from inside the flow, to form a narrow stream. ![]() 12 May: A local, wearing her gas mask, walks by the molten flows in Pahoa The emerging lava is red-hot at the opening, and progressively crinkles and crusts over as it flows downhill. ![]() 13 May: A fissure spews lava and volcanic gas, east of Leilani Estates Fiery curtains of lava Geologists have been watching Kīlauea continuously since 1912, and have developed a simple understanding of how the magma flows under Kīlauea. It rises out of the Earth's mantle under the summit, and then flows along subterranean fractures beneath the East Rift Zone. ![]() 17 May: A geologist inspects cracks after an explosive eruption In this phase of the eruption, the movement of the magma is causing new fractures to open at the surface. Some of these fractures just let hot gases escape; others turn into open fissures, erupting fiery curtains of lava. The steady lowering of the lava lake within Halema'umaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea raised the potential for explosive eruptions as the lava column drops to the level of groundwater beneath the volcano. Explosive plumes The mixing of groundwater with the hot magma can cause steam-driven explosions. Seventeen fissures have opened so far in the lower East Rift Zone spewing out dangerous lava and gases. Some of these gases, such as sulphur dioxide, reduce air quality and cause breathing problems, especially among risk groups such as asthmatics. ![]() 15 May: A thick plume rises from one of the island's craters Activity can change rapidly and is hard to predict precisely. Future outbreaks could occur both uprift (southwest) and downrift (northeast) of the existing fissures – or existing fissures can be reactivated. Tamsin Mather and David Pyle are volcanologists and both professors at Oxford University's Department of Earth Sciences. Source: .com
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| skibboy | 20 May 2018, 10:39 PM Post #8 |
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Hawaii volcano: Man hit by lava in first serious Kilauea injury 20 May 2018 The first serious injury has been reported as Hawaii continues to grapple with weeks of volcanic eruptions and lava flow. The injured man was sitting on a balcony at his home when "lava spatter" - projectile molten rock - landed on him. "It hit him on the shin and shattered everything there down on his leg," a spokeswoman for the county mayor said. Lava spatters can weigh "as much a refrigerator", she told Reuters. The Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island erupted at the beginning of May, and the situation for residents has steadily been worsening. On Saturday, a key coastal road used as the main escape route for residents was in danger of being cut off, which could hamper evacuations. The possibility of the lava flows reaching the ocean, meanwhile, threatens to release toxic gases in a plume called a "laze". When molten lava hits sea water, the chemical reaction can create "hazy and noxious conditions" laced with hydrochloric acid and tiny particles of glass, the US Geological Survey (USGS) says. "Even the wispy edges of it can cause skin and eye irritation and breathing difficulties," USGS warned. Growing flows Some of the lava flows have increased over the weekend. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said that the rate of eruptions increased in the area known as the lower east rift zone, where four fissures have merged together. The result is "a continuous line of spatter and fountaining". Two different lava flows from the combined fissures have now merged less than a mile from the coast. Geologists are warning that the behaviour of the lava flows remains unpredictable, and are urging residents to obey all warnings from Hawaii's civil defence. ![]() This fast-moving flow in the Pahoe area consumed a home, seen here burning in the top left At the summit, a large explosion happened at around midnight on Friday night into Saturday, sending a plume of volcanic gas some 10,000 ft (two miles, or 3km) into the air. Thousands of people have already left their homes in some areas of the island. Bush fires have also broken out in several areas. "It is a very dynamic situation," geologist Carolyn Parcheta from the observatory told a news conference, while warning of the risk to one of the main residential areas. Lava "flooded around the east side of Lanipuna Gardens, and to me that is a very scary scenario," she said. "That's what concerns me most - is that people might be trapped by something like that." Despite safety concerns in some residential areas - and worries that volcanic ash could interfere with air travel - Hawaii's business community has stressed that many tourist activities remain open, as do the island's airports. Source: .com
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| skibboy | 21 May 2018, 11:39 PM Post #9 |
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Coast Guard: Kilauea's Lava Ocean Entry Carries High Risks![]() Plume of gas rising from Kilauea lava ocean entry, May 20 (images courtesy USGS) BY MAREX 2018-05-21 The U.S. Coast Guard is warning boat operators to stay away from the ocean entry point for lava flows from Kilauea, the volcano on Hawaii's Big Island that is currently in a high-activity phase. Localized risks at the ocean entry include hot water scalding, steam explosions, collapsing cliff fronts and an unusual form of marine weather - "lava haze," or "laze," a corrosive mixture of hydrochloric acid gas, steam and fine glass particles. Health hazards from this mixture include lung, eye and skin irritation, and according to the Hawaii Volcano Observatory, exposure can be fatal. Lava haze caused two deaths immediately adjacent to the Kilauea coastal entry point in 2000, when seawater washed across recent and active lava flows. To protect the public from this hazard, the local authorities have closed off access to oceanfront Highway 137 on either side of the lava flow. Photos from the scene showed a towering plume of steam extending southwest along the shoreline, and Hawaii County Civil Defense warned residents to stay well back from the vapor. ![]() ![]() ![]() The Coast Guard has implemented a marine safety zone around the lava ocean entry points. “For mariners without prior limited entry approval, the safety zone encompasses all waters extending [1,000 feet] in all directions around the entry of the lava flow into the ocean,” said Lt. Cmdr. John Bannon of Coast Guard Sector Honolulu. “Getting too close to the lava can result in serious injury or death.” Lava tourism is a significant local industry, and the Coast Guard has previously imposed similar limitations for tour boat operators at Kilauea's Kamokuna ocean entry. Violators found in that exclusion zone are potentially subject to a fine of up to $88,000. Hazards on shore include exposure to ash and to elevated levels of sulfur dioxide (SOx), produced naturally at the volcano's active vents. The lava flows have also burned through the Leilani Estates subdivision adjacent to the rift zone, destroying at least 40 structures. ![]() Fissure 20 (USGS) ![]() Fissure 20 (USGS) Source: .com
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| skibboy | 23 May 2018, 12:52 AM Post #10 |
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Hawaii volcano lava flows into power plant site 5 hours ago ![]() The lava flows are encroaching on the Puna Geothermal Venture plant on Hawaii's Big Island Lava from the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii has crept towards a geothermal power plant, prompting workers to shut down facilities amid fears of deadly gases. Workers removed flammable substances and the plant's deep underground wells have been filled with cold water. They will be plugged with iron on Tuesday. If lava flows into the wells before they are plugged, it could release lethal hydrogen sulphate gas. The slow-moving lava entered the plant site on Monday, but has since stalled. ![]() Lava spews out of fissures near the lower east rift zone on Monday "It's not easy to predict where it's going to go, and when it's going to get there," Tom Travis from Hawaii Emergency Management told CBS News. County officials said the lava was around 900ft (274m) from the closest well on Monday. In the worst-case scenario, Mr Travis said there would be "a steam release, many chemicals, but primarily hydrogen sulphide, a very deadly gas". Emergency workers at the plant transported 60,000 gallons of highly flammable pentane gas out of the facility as a precaution. ![]() Lava flowing southward from Kilauea ![]() Geologists reported lava fountains as high as 164ft (50m) on Monday Located on the Lower East Rift Zone of the Kilauea volcano, the Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV) plant generates around 30% of the island's electrical power by bringing steam from the underground wells into a turbine generator. The plant's wells run a mile deep in some areas. ![]() The toxic "laze" plumes created when lava enters the ocean can cause irritation and breathing difficulties, officials say Kilauea erupted at the beginning of May and the situation for residents has steadily been worsening. ![]() Earlier this month, this fast-moving flow in the Pahoe area consumed a home, seen here burning in the top left Source: .com
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| skibboy | 27 May 2018, 10:57 PM Post #11 |
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Hawaii volcano: How many people do volcanoes kill? By Dr Sarah Brown University of Bristol 27 May 2018 With its red-hot rivers of lava and clouds of ash, Hawaii's Kilauea volcano has captured the world's attention. But how dangerous are such eruptions? Every year about 60 volcanoes erupt. Some take us by surprise but others are regular offenders. Kilauea is one of the world's most active - its present eruption began 35 years ago, but there has been an increase in activity in recent weeks. Its lava flows have quite literally been erupting in people's backyards, but thankfully only one serious injury has been reported - a man hit by projectile molten rock as he sat on his balcony. This could appear to suggest that volcanoes aren't all that dangerous, but much of the world's population lives close to an active volcano - and many of these are much deadlier than Kilauea. ![]() Since the year 1500, about 280,000 people have been killed by volcanoes - 170,000 of those by just six eruptions. We have compiled these figures using media reports, public records and historical documents. About 2,000 people have been killed since the year 2000. Most of these deaths were caused by volcanic mudflows in the Philippines, pyroclastic flows in Indonesia, lava flows in the Democratic Republic of Congo and volcanic projectiles in Japan. Last year three tourists died in Italy when they fell into a pit in a volcanic crater. At present, about 800 million people live within 100 km of an active volcano - a distance well within reach of potentially lethal volcanic hazards. Of these, about 200 million are in Indonesia. As populations continue to grow, it is likely even more people will set up home close to one of the world's 1,500 active volcanoes, which are spread across 81 countries. "Active" does not mean that all of these volcanoes are erupting, but that we think they have been recently active and are capable of new eruptions. ![]() Volcanoes pose many different types of danger to those who live near them. In the case of Kilauea, the United States Geological Survey noticed a marked increase in seismic activity at the end of April, with the first fissures appearing at the start of May. Since then, lava flows have travelled about three miles (5km) to the ocean, destroying homes and leading to the evacuation of thousands of people. Such lava flows don't kill many people. While it burns and buries everything in its path, lava - molten rock that glows red-hot, with temperatures of about 1200C - moves slowly enough that people can normally just walk away. The danger arises when people fail to evacuate quickly. In Hawaii, several people were airlifted to safety after their escape routes were cut off. Lava can cause explosions, including the ignition of pockets of methane gas produced as it buries vegetation. And when it reaches the ocean it forms unstable new land and laze - plumes of steam, hydrochloric acid and glass shards. Another hazard in Hawaii is sulphur dioxide, one of several gases that can be released by volcanoes, even when they're not erupting. However, lava and gas combined account for less than 2% of recorded volcanic fatalities. The largest loss of life to volcanic gas was in Cameroon in 1986, when more than 1,500 people were killed as carbon dioxide from Lake Nyos flowed into surrounding villages. ![]() Most people killed by volcanoes are the victims of pyroclastic flows and lahars - volcanic mudflows, packed with debris - which have been responsible for about 120,000 deaths over the last 500 years. These are normally associated with large conical volcanoes found at tectonic boundaries, such as the ring of fire, unlike the gently sloping shield volcanoes, like Kilauea. Pyroclastic flows are very fast avalanches of rock, ash and gas, which can reach temperatures of 700C. They destroy everything in their path, and death is near certain for anyone caught in their way. It was pyroclastic flows that destroyed the Roman city of Pompeii in AD 79. And they claimed nearly 30,000 lives on the Caribbean island of Martinique in 1902. Lahars can contain rocks, trees and even houses. They form as rainfall, snow, or melting ice and wash ash deposits off the slopes of volcanoes and into surrounding valleys at high speeds. In 1985 about 25,000 people were killed by lahars at Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia. In large eruptions volcanic ash can travel hundreds or even thousands of kilometres. It can bury vast areas and disrupt transportation and critical services. Historically, famine and disease have followed such events, with crop failures, or ash and gas leading to temporary changes in the climate. However, while unstoppable, volcanic eruptions do not need to result in death and disaster. That only one serious injury has been reported in Hawaii is testament to the work of observatory scientists and disaster management agencies, as well as excellent monitoring systems. Unfortunately, limited resources mean few volcanoes around the world are as well monitored as Kilauea. Satellite monitoring allows some observation of even the most remote volcanoes, but only about 20% of the world's volcanoes have any ground-based monitoring. And roughly every two years a volcano with no historical record erupts. These can be the most dangerous, as long periods of dormancy can end in more explosive eruptions and the people living near them can be the least prepared. ![]() Nevertheless, volcano observatories, researchers and international organisations work tirelessly to respond to emergencies and forecast events, with many tens of thousands of lives saved as a result. Of course, volcanoes don't need to kill people to have a significant impact. Evacuations uproot people from their homes, livelihoods are lost, agriculture devastated and economic loss can run into billions. Even when they appear to be sleeping, we'd be wise to keep watching the world's volcanoes. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ About this piece This analysis piece was commissioned by the BBC from an expert working for an outside organisation. Dr Sarah Brown is a Senior Research Associate in Volcanology at the University of Bristol. She has a particular focus on volcanic records, past activity, the impact on people and communicating risk. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Edited by Duncan Walker Source: bbc.com
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| skibboy | 29 May 2018, 11:53 PM Post #12 |
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'Don't toast marshmallows on Hawaii volcano' says US government 36 minutes ago ![]() Kilauea in the US state of Hawaii is one of the world's most active volcanoes and recently as captured the world's attention The US Geological Survey has responded to a social media query on whether it is safe to roast marshmallows over a volcanic vent. The answer is no. Kilauea in the US state of Hawaii is one of the world's most active volcanoes and it has been very active in recent weeks. With its red-hot rivers of lava have destroyed dozens of homes on Hawaii's Big Island, with 2,000 people being told to leave their properties. Jay Furr from Richmond, Vermont asked the US government department whether it would be safe to roast marshmallows over volcanic vents using a long stick. The US Geological Survey's Volcanoes Twitter account, which posts official updates and information on volcanoes in the US, responded to Mr Furr's query, saying that such an experiment would lead to a "bad taste" and a "pretty spectacular reaction". They said it would not be safe and advised people to not try to do so. Last week, people in Hawaii were warned about toxic fumes produced when molten rock flows into the ocean. Kilauea is an extremely active volcano and its present eruption began 35 years ago, A growth of volcanic activity in recent weeks has meant that it has quite literally been erupting in people's backyards. Only one serious injury has been reported, after a man was hit by projectile molten rock as he sat on his balcony. Source: bbc.com
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| skibboy | 3 Jul 2018, 11:59 PM Post #13 |
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Ocean Drones to Monitor Kilauea Volcano![]() Credit: Liquid Robotics BY MAREX 2018-07-02 Kilauea, the volcano on Hawaii's Big Island that is currently in a high-activity phase, will now be monitored by ocean drones in real time. Liquid Robotics has deployed two Wave Gliders to capture live ocean data close to where lava is flowing into the ocean. Ocean drones have rarely been used to observe such volcanic activity, and they offer scientists new insights into the effects of the lava entering the ocean, the plume it creates and the interactions of the lava and seawater. Over the next three weeks, the Wave Gliders will operate a precise zig zag course, approximately 300 meters (984 feet) from the lava flow plume collecting subsurface, surface and atmospheric data. Working with researchers from the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, the Wave Gliders host a wide assortment of sophisticated sensors to measure water temperatures, oxygen levels, pH levels, salinity, turbidity, conductivity and underwater acoustics. “The plume of hot, sediment-laden water generated by the lava flowing into the ocean spreads out, impacting surrounding ecosystems,” said Dr. Steve Colbert, University of Hawaii at Hilo. “We don’t know how far and how deep that plume extends, or how it changes with oceanographic conditions or changes in the flow of lava. The Wave Gliders provide us the opportunity to answer these important questions.” When the first Wave Glider arrived at the lava flow location, surface water temperatures measured above 120oF/49oC: conditions dangerous for humans, less so for ocean robots. More than 650 homes have been destroyed by lava, and molten rock now covers over 6,000 acres of land. On May 11, the Captain of the Port Honolulu issued a Final Rule establishing a permanent Safety Zone for the navigable waters surrounding the entry of lava from Kilauea volcano into the Pacific Ocean. The Safety Zone encompasses all waters extending 300 meters (984 feet) in all directions around all entry points of lava flow into the ocean. Long periods of explosive and effusive (lava-flow-dominated) activity have alternated at Kilauea for the past 2,500 years. Kilauea is a shield volcano located on the eastern slope of Mauna Loa Volcano on Hawaii. There is a lack of old exposed rock at Kilauea, which makes it difficult for geologists to piece together its complete eruption history. Only about 10 percent of Kilauea's surface consists of rock older than 1,000 years. The other 90 percent of the volcano's surface is covered by younger lava flows, and about 20 percent of those flows are less than 200 years old. Estimates for the age of Kilauea's first-erupted lavas continue to evolve, but current research indicates the first lava flows erupted onto the ocean floor between 210,000 and 280,000 years ago, and the volcano transitioned from its pre-shield to shield-building stage about 155,000 years ago. Source: .com
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3:23 PM Jul 11