Hawaii's Kilauea volcano eruption continues sending vog downwind
Residents on the western side of the Big Island will see areas of vog as Hawaii's Kilauea volcano eruption continues. Vog is a volcanic smog that can lead to air quality issues.
Hawaii's Kilauea volcano continues erupting for second time this year
Geologists continue to monitor the latest eruption of Kilauea after it began spewing lava on June 7. The volcano in Hawaii's Volcano National Park is sending volcanic smog or vog downwind.
HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK – Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, continues to erupt in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Thursday after an active eruption was first detected.
Geologists with the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaii Volcano Observatory continue to monitor Kilauea's lava flows and behavior during its second eruption this year, which began on Wednesday.
The volcano alert and aviation levels were upgraded to Red/Warning because of hazards from the active eruption, including volcanic gas emissions but later downgraded back to Orange/Watch when effusion rates declined. Still, the public is not at risk, and the eruption is occurring in a closed area of the National Park, so no additional closures have been announced.
Vog will blow downwind of the Kilauea's eruption
Residents on the Big Island will recognize one of the main effects of Kilauea's eruption, known as volcanic smog or "vog", which can reach miles downwind. When the volcano emits sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, it creates a visible haze called vog. According to the International Volcanic Health Hazard Network, Vog can create air quality concerns for people, animals and crops downwind.
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Hawaii Volcano Observatory web cameras continue to show epic volcanic activity, including geysers of lava and several lava flows on the crater floor from active vents.
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Image 1 of 5A view of the summit eruption of Kīlauea volcano, within Halemaʻumaʻu crater on June 8. Lava is flowing on the crater floor, and there are several active vent sources. (Image: USGS/HVO) ( )
![Lava spews from the Kilauea volcano eruption as shown on the B1cam west of Halemaʻumaʻu crater.]()
Image 2 of 5Lava spews from the Kilauea volcano eruption as shown on the B1cam west of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. (Image: USGS/HVO) ( )
![Photographs of the current eruption of the Kilauea volcano confined to the summit caldera within Hawaii Volcano National Park.]()
Image 3 of 5Photographs of the current eruption of the Kilauea volcano confined to the summit caldera within Hawaii Volcano National Park. ( )
![Photographs of the current eruption of the Kilauea volcano confined to the summit caldera within Hawaii Volcano National Park.]()
Image 4 of 5Photographs of the current eruption of the Kilauea volcano confined to the summit caldera within Hawaii Volcano National Park. (Image: USGS) (USGS)
![A Hawaii Volcano Observatory camera shows the Kilauea caldera after the volcano began erupting on June 7, 2023.]()
Image 5 of 5A Hawaii Volcano Observatory camera shows the Kilauea caldera after the volcano began erupting on June 7, 2023. (Image: USGS) ( )
Another camera view from the south rim of the crater captured a wind vortex or whirlwind above the eruption site. According to the USGS, volcano vortices can form due to extreme heating.
A volcanic whirlwind or vortex at the Kilauea eruption site in Hawaii on June 7, 2023. (Image: USGS/HVO)
The USGS's Hawaii Volcano Observatory has more than a dozen cameras livestreaming activity from different areas of Kilauea. The cameras operate 24 hours a day, even overnight.
This marks the second eruption for Kilauea this year, it's last eruption began in January and ended in March. Since 1983, Kilauea has erupted more than 60 times during a very active cycle.