Kilauea Volcano The Next To Go?

Tuesday, September 17th, 2013

The current volcano alert level for the Hawaiian volcano Kilauea has been updated to WATCH. Formed at the southern coast of Hawaii's big island, Kilauea is the most active of the island's volcanoes. Somewhat recently, Kilauea has formed a caldera at the summit of the volcano. It seems to not be a matter of if but when Kilauea will erupt.

Photo taken from from a previous Kilauea eruption in 2010 that sent a lava flow into Kalapana.

As early as last Sunday, warnings have been issued on the USGS website for the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. This makes the Kilauea volcano one of the most active volcanoes in North America. This could create hazards for the people and infrastructure surrounding the area. Vent areas on the volcano could erupt or collapse without warning. Gas plumes could be sent into the air that carry potentially-deadly amounts of sulfur dioxide gas at least 1 kilometer downwind.

Fortunately for the citizens of Hawaii, many precautionary measures have taken place to warn individuals of the dangers of volcanoes in the area. On top of that, the Kilauea volcano has had a long active history so an eruption that is not of any considerable size should not be problematic for that people or buildings in the area. Volcanoes still need to be taken seriously however. There are around 500 active volcanoes in the world today and around 50 erupt each year according to Environmental Hazards expert Keith Smith. Smith continues to say that although few deaths occur directly from volcanoes in the modern world, the hazards that they create such as famine from crop failure.

Hawaii may be prepared for Kilauea, but it is important to understand that these hazards can, although not very often, dangerous and it is important to not overlook the environmental impacts that they have on the world around them.

Sources:
http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/blogs/hawaii_today/2010/7/21/Kilauea_Volcano_sends_lava_flow_into_Kalapana_again
http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/activity/kilaueastatus.php
Smith, Keith. Environmental Hazards: Assessing Risk and Reducing Disaster. Sixth Edition. (New York: Taylor and Francis Group, 2013). 176-177.