On Wednesday, March 26th, more than a dozen media representatives gathered at the summit of Kilauea volcano for a briefing by scientists, park and health officials and the mayor of Hawai‘i County. The backdrop was an ever-changing plume of volcanic ash and toxic gas that billowed and drifted on the wind. Presentations focused on the hazards of sustained elevated sulfur dioxide levels and fallout from Halema‘uma‘u crater; public health and safety; park operations, including visitor use and access; monitoring and dissemination of information; and other issues of public concern. At the park's request, FAA closed airspace over the crater within a three nautical mile radius at and below 4,000 feet above ground level due to the ash hazard. On Thursday, the park's Type III incident management team resumed command of the eruption incident from the Western incident management team. While assigned to the incident, the Western IMT revised and expanded the park's eruption operational plans to provide for short and long-term atmospheric (sulfur dioxide gas) evacuations in addition to the more historical lava viewing eruptions. The plan provides a comprehensive tool kit to respond to a multitude of volcanic incidents. Halema‘uma‘u crater’s ash eruption was temporarily interrupted yesterday morning, resulting in a predominantly white steam and gas plume with venting sounds audible at the Hawaii Volcano Observatory, nearly two miles upwind. Overnight, cameras recorded persistent incandescence reflected at the base of the plume (http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/cam3/). Sulfur dioxide emission rates from the volcano’s summit continued to be elevated at about 1,500 tons/day compared to a normal background rate of between 150 and 200 tons/day. Trade winds helped sulfur dioxide concentrations remain below levels of concern in park areas that remain open to the public. In the closed areas, SO2 concentrations were up to 40 ppm downwind of Halema`uma`u crater and 140 ppm near the overlook on the crater’s rim.
