Transcript Volcanic Smog - WordPress.com

Volcanic Smog
“Vog”
“Vog is created when volcanic gases
(primarily oxides of sulfur) react with
sunlight, oxygen and moisture. The
result includes sulphuric acid and other
sulfates. Vog is made up of a mixture of
gases and aerosols which makes it hard
to study and potentially more
dangerous than either on their own.”
Wikipedia 02 JULY 2014
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vog
Vog from Sulfur dioxide emissions
In Hawaii the gas plumes of Kīlauea rise up from three locations: Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, Puʻu ʻŌʻō vent,
and from along the coastline where lava flows from the East Rift zone enter the ocean. The plumes
create a blanket of vog that can envelop the island. Vog mostly affects the Kona coast on the west side
of the Island of Hawaii where the prevailing trade winds blow the vog to the southwest and southern
winds then blow it north up the Kohala coast.
Wikipedia 01 July 2014
Comparing Vog and Smog
Vog and smog are different. Vog is formed when sulfur oxides
emitted by a volcano react with moisture to form an aerosol. The
aerosol scatters light and so makes the vog visible. Smog is formed
largely from the incomplete combustion of fuel, reacting with
nitrogen oxides and ozone produced from carbon monoxide by
reactions with sunlight. The result is also a visible aerosol.
When smog levels are high the sky looks yellowish grey because
nitrogen oxides are yellow. In contrast, sulfur oxides are colorless
and vog looks grey. Once vog dissipates, grey spots in the sky may
for a time remain trapped in the inversion layer.
It is also important to note that the same chemicals are emitted
from volcanoes as from cars.
Wikipedia 01 July 2014
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vog
Volcanic Smog “VOG” - Hawaii
When the Kilauea volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii is more active and the wind
directions are right, it leads to more sulfur dioxide particles in the air over Oahu ,
which leads to sinus pain, headaches, and irritable children (in that order).
Jessica Stamm, MS, CCN
www.stammnutrition.com
Volcanic Smog (Vog)
Vog can cause eyes, skin and lung irritation. It
can compromise human’s immune system and
cause even more serious health problems, such
as asthma, lung cancer, bronchitis. Lungs can be
permanently damaged after long exposure to
Vog. These effects are especially serious in
children and individuals who have chronic
asthma or other respiratory problems.
www.theAirPurifiers.com
Vog – Hawaii 1999
Dave Nelson 28 June 2009 www.sydneystormcity.com
Vog
Clouds
Clouds
Hawaii
Although volcanic smog is largely a human-induced atmospheric hazard , nature is capable of creating it as well.
The tiny sulfate particles that make up vog reflect light well , so that it shows up easily when viewed from space.
Vog is not confined to Hawaii; it can and does occur in other volcanic areas.
Lutgens, Fredrick K. “The Atmosphere An Introduction to Meteorology” Chapter 13, page 365. (NASA)
Volcanic Smog – Big Island 2008
Big Island crops are shriveling as sulfur dioxide from Kilauea wafts over them and envelops them in "vog," or volcanic
smog. People are wheezing, and schoolchildren are being kept indoors during recess. High gas levels led Hawaii
Volcanoes National Park to close several days last month, forcing the evacuation of thousands of visitors. Residents of
this volcanic island are used to toxic gas. But this haze is so bad that farmers are thinking about growing different
crops, and many people are worrying about their health.
Vog - Volcanic Smog - kills plants, casts a haze over Hawaii AP - May 5, 2008
www.seattletimes.com
Preventive Measures
If you have breathing problems, take the following measures to prevent the
respiratory effects of volcanic smog:
Stay indoors as much as possible. People who have lung conditions should limit
physical activity outdoors. Keep windows and doors closed and the air
conditioning on. It can also help to use an air cleaner/purifier.
When you do have to go outside, wear a paper or gauze surgical mask that covers
your nose and mouth. Wetting the mask with a solution made from baking soda
and water can further protect your lungs.
Do not smoke. Smoking can further irritate your lungs. Drink a lot of fluids,
especially warm fluids (such as tea). Try bending forward at the waist slightly to
make it easier for you to breathe.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007468.htm 16 May 2014
Vog Kills Plants, Casts A Haze Over Hawaii
OCEAN VIEW, Hawaii — For eight years, Tony and Sam Bayaoa have grown thousands of
bright red, yellow and pink protea flowers on their farm. Then in March, Kilauea volcano
opened a new vent and began spewing double the usual amount of toxic gas. Now
about 70 percent of their crop is dried, brown and brittle.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/06/vog-volcanic-smog-kills-p_n_100357.html 05 May 2008
Agricultural Crops and Vog
Ash fall can have serious detrimental effects on agricultural crops
depending on ash thickness, the type of growing condition of a
crop and timing and intensity of subsequent rainfall. There is
little that can be done to protect field crops from ash
fall. Harvested crops should be thoroughly washed prior to
consumption.
Overhead irrigation of greenhouse nursery stock may be helpful
to wash away ash and residue and minimize chemical damage to
flowers and foliage.
http://governor.hawaii.gov/emergency-information/important-information-about-vog/agricultural-effects/
Climate Change Could Increase Volcanic Eruptions
Ash plume rising from Eyjafjallajökull, the Icelandic volcano that erupted in 2010.
Pic: Gunnlaugur Þór Briem/Flickr
www.dailyclimate.org
Interesting Facts about Vog
• Like smog, the presence of vog reduces visibility.
• Moisture in the air causes vog particles to enlarge, decreasing
visibility still further.
• On the Island of Hawai`i, people often turn their headlights on
during daylight hours when driving in vog, and vog sometimes limits
visibility for air traffic.
• The tiny sulfuric acid droplets in vog have the corrosive properties
of dilute battery acid. When atmospheric moisture is abundant,
these droplets combine with it and fall as acid rain, damaging plants
and accelerating the rusting of metal objects such as cars, industrial
and farm equipment, and building components.
Interesting Facts about Vog
• In drier conditions, such as those that prevail on Hawaii's Kona
coast, the acid aerosols in vog may actually impede the formation
of raindrops, resulting in decreased summer rainfall for crops and
drinking water.
• Vog can also mix directly with moisture on the leaves of plants and
in less than a day cause severe chemical burns. Farmers on the
Island of Hawai`i have suffered losses even to crops in greenhouses,
because vog can enter through the air vents.
14 October 2004
http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs169-97/
200,000 Residents Urged to Evacuate as Volcano
in Indonesia BLOWS
Mount Kelud on the island of Java blew on Thursday evening killing three people and
spreading ash more than 312 miles across the collection of islands. It is situated along
the “Ring of Fire” – a volcanic belt that spreads across the islands.
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/365496/ 14 February 2014
Volcanic smog makes for beautiful sunsets in Kona, Hawaii.
29 March 2012
www.reddit .com