USGS
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Skip past Left navigational barKilauea
black circleEruption Update
black circleEruption Summary
black circleHazards
black circleHistory
black circlePu`u `Ō `ō Webcam
black circleHalema`uma`u Webcam
black circleVolcano Movies
Mauna Loa
black circleCurrent Activity
black circleHazards
black circleHistory
black circleSummit Panorama
Earthquakes
black 
              circleCurrent Eqs Map
black circleFelt EQs
black circleDestructive EQs
black circleSeismicity
black circleHazards, Zoning
black circleInstrumentation
Other 
              Volcanoes
black circleHualalai
black circleHaleakala
black circleLo`ihi
Volcanic Hazards
black circleFAQ-SO2 Vog Ash
black circleOcean Entry
black circleLava Zones
black circleTypes
About HVO
black circleHistory of HVO
black circleVolunteer program
black circleLocation

September 5, 2008 PRESS RELEASE - Sloshing lava lake viewed within Halema'uma'u vent

2008 Marked by Significant Changes on Kīlauea

This year has been marked by a number of changes on Kīlauea Volcano-both at its summit and along its east rift. March 2008 was a particularly noteworthy month with summit sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions reaching record high levels; a new vent opening in Halema`uma`u Crater; a small explosive eruption at Kīlauea's summit, the first since 1924; and lava flowing into the sea for the first time in over eight months. Events leading up to these changes date back to at least mid-2007, when an intrusion on Father's Day (June 17) disrupted the supply of magma to Pu`u `Ō `ō, the long-lived vent on Kīlauea's east rift.

Recent changes and events leading to Kīlauea's current eruptive activity are summarized in:

2007-2008 Kīlauea Eruption Timeline

Halema`uma`u from the Jaggar Museum overlook on March 27, 2008.
Lava streams into the ocean near Kalapana on March 26, 2008.
Left. Halema`uma`u from the Jaggar Museum overlook on March 27, 2008. Right. Lava streams into the ocean near Kalapana on March 26, 2008.


Sulfur Dioxide, Vog, and Volcanic Ash Impact
Hawai`i Island Air Quality

On March 12, 2008, a new gas vent opened in Halema`uma`u Crater at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. Since then, sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions and the associated volcanic air pollution (vog) have impacted air quality on Hawai`i Island and, at times, throughout the entire state. Volcanic ash in the Halema`uma`u gas plume also resulted in the closure of air space above the crater.

In response to numerous inquiries about SO2, vog, and air quality on Hawai`i Island, a list of the most common questions, with answers and links to additional information, are compiled in:

Frequently Asked Questions
Air Quality in Hawai`i


 
Archive of previous feature stories

  Ash-laden Halema`uma`u plume captures the rainbow in the early morning light. Photo taken from Steaming Bluffs.
Photograph by J. Kauahikaua
March 29, 2008

Impressive Halema`uma`u plume captures and turns

Top: Ash-laden Halema`uma`u plume captures the rainbow in the early morning light. Photo taken from Steaming Bluffs.

Bottom: Halema`uma`u plume, just minutes after it turns from bright white to reddish-brown. Notice the contrast from bright white in the sky to reddish-brown near the vent.

Archive of Featured Photographs

  Halema`uma`u plume, just minutes after it turns from bright white to reddish-brown.  Notice the contrast from bright white in the sky to reddish-brown near the vent.
Photograph by J. Kauahikaua
March 27, 2008

 

More Volcano Information from HVO and Beyond

Earthquake seismogramReport a felt earthquake to HVO using this form.
More USGS Volcano Web sites

Volcano WatchCurrent issue of Volcano Watch essay, written weekly by USGS scientists.
National Park ServiceHawai`i Volcanoes National Park, home to HVO. Find visitor information and resources here. Graphic: Kids DoorVolcanoes for kids, from the Volcano World website.
Skip past main content navigational bar


Homeblank spacerVolcano Watchblank spacerProductsblank spacerGalleryblank spacerPress Releases
How Hawaiian Volcanoes Work

U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California, USA
URL http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/index.html
Contact: hvowebmaster@usgs.gov
(808) 967-7328 (an autoattendant)
| USGS Privacy Statement | USGS Disclaimer | Accessibility |
Last modification: 20 August 2008 (pnf)