Researchers are also keeping an eye on three other volcanoes that have shown signs of unrest, including the Semisopochnoi, Takawangha and Cleveland volcanoes. Searcy noted the 5,709-foot Great Sitkin has also been active for quite a while. “Roughly 15 months of activity, longer than any of the previous eruptions.”ĭuring that time, Pavlof – which stands at 8,261 feet– has not produced a high ash cloud, posing no threat to aviation, Searcy said.Īs for the Great Sitkin Volcano, lava is still erupting in its summit crater, according to a report from the state’s volcano observatory. “Pavlof has been erupting for over a year,” Searcy told CNN in a phone interview from Anchorage. More than 3,000 miles to the north, officials in Alaska are also monitoring two erupting volcanoes in their state.īoth the Pavlof Volcano and Great Sitkin Volcano are experiencing low-level eruptions in the remote Aleutian Islands chain, said Cheryl Searcy, duty scientist at the Alaska Volcano Observatory. “Observing the volcano should occur at a distance. And the most dangerous is sulfur dioxide,” Ige said. “The concern is about dangerous gases from the fissures. The governor acknowledged Wednesday the potential for air hazards and said officials are tracking air quality monitors across the island. David Ige said he signed an emergency proclamation as a “proactive” measure. While evacuation orders have not been issued, Hawaii Gov. Volcanic gas, fine ash and Pele’s Hair (strands of volcanic glass) could be carried downwind, the US Geological Survey said.Ĭhildren, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions should reduce outdoor activities that cause heavy breathing and reduce exposure by staying indoors and closing windows and doors if vog conditions develop, the health department said. Marco Garcia/APĪ guide to those volcanic terms: Pele's hair, caldera, volcanic ash - learn what they mean Mauna Loa, the world's largest active volcano, erupted Monday for the first time in 38 years. “So the Hawaiian Civil Defense Authority and the US Geological Survey will closely monitor the volcanic smog … and they will let any communities affected know well in advance if people with respiratory issues should stay inside.”Ī river of lava flows down from Mauna Loa, Monday, Nov. These are all gases that are really not fun for average folks to breathe in, let alone if you have any sort of respiratory issue,” Phoenix said. “You’re talking hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide. You don’t want to breathe them in,” volcanologist Jess Phoenix said. Residents and visitors can expect “vog conditions, ash in the air, and levels of sulfur dioxide to increase and fluctuate in various areas of the state,” the Hawaii health department said.Īnd plumes of dark clouds billowing out of the volcanoes aren’t smoke – they’re “volcanic gases, which are acid gases. State health officials have warned of potential air quality issues, including vog – or volcanic smog. Lava is spilling toward a key Hawaiian highway, but the governor says it's safe to visit the Big Island But this is the first time in decades that both volcanoes have erupted simultaneously. Kilauea has been erupting since last year. Just 21 miles away from Mauna Loa, another volcano is also erupting in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. “And the staff at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory say that they can provide at least 24-48 hours advance warning if the lava appears to be threatening the roadway,” he said.Īnd if emergencies arise during a possible highway closure, there are hospitals and first responders on each side of the island, Weintraub said. The transportation department can provide a six-hour notice of the road’s closure, Weintraub said. Hawaii’s transportation department shared a preliminary plan for the possibility of closure. Mauna Loa eruption disrupts critical climate tool used to measure carbon emissions in the atmosphere United States Geological Survey/Handout/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Mauna Loa's eruption sent lava flows cascading down slope, impacting the road used to access the Mauna Loa Observatory and cutting off power to maintain critical climate tool.
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