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Temporal variability in SO2 exposures at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, USA

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

Sulfur dioxide measured at the Visitor’s Center of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, USA exhibits seasonal and diurnal patterns and is sensitive to rainfall, but the relationship between wind direction and SO2 is too inconsistent to support deterministic predictions of hourly SO2 based on hourly wind direction. Although SO2 at the Visitor Center has usually been below regulatory levels, high SO2 levels and adverse health effects remain a concern. This investigation identified patterns in hourly SO2 based on wind direction, time of day, month, and rainfall occurrence using 4 years of hourly data. Empirical probabilities were investigated using a Bayesian approach. Winds from the volcanic vents were rare, but when they did occur SO2 was elevated about half of the time. Conversely, half of the hours with elevated SO2 occurred when volcanic vents were not directly upwind. Episodes of elevated SO2 tended to occur during the months of November–March and between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Rainfall was associated with a marked reduction in SO2 (29–81% depending on wind direction). Individuals that wish to avoid exposure to volcanic fumes can take these patterns into account.

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Acknowledgment

Air quality data, wind data, and rainfall data were collected by Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, and obtained from the National Park Service Air Resources Division. This study was partially funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via the Hawai’i Department of Health (Grant H2S/CCT913731) and in no way reflects the opinions or policies of these agencies or their representatives.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Natural Sciences, University of Hawai’i at Hilo, 200 W. Kawili St, Hilo, HI, 96720, USA

    Jene D. Michaud & Jon-Pierre Michaud

  2. Department of Public Health Sciences and Epidemiology, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, 1960 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA

    Dmitry Krupitsky

Authors
  1. Jene D. Michaud
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  2. Jon-Pierre Michaud
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  3. Dmitry Krupitsky
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Correspondence to Jene D. Michaud.

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Michaud, J.D., Michaud, JP. & Krupitsky, D. Temporal variability in SO2 exposures at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, USA. Environ Geol 52, 81–92 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0459-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0459-y

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