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SO₂ and fine aerosol dispersion from the Kilauea plume, Kau district, Hawaii, USA

¹ Department of Public Health, Oregon State University, Waldo Hall 256, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA
² Department of Geosciences, Oregon State University, Wilkinson 104, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA
³ P.O. Box 1183, Hanalei, Hawaii 96714, USA
⁴ Department of Public Health, Oregon State University, Waldo Hall 256, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA

Proximal ground-level assessment of sulfur dioxide gas and fine aerosol in the volcanic gas plume downwind from Kilauea volcano indicates high levels of both species. Fine aerosol and SO₂ data were collected in the Kau district, 37–74 km downwind from the eruption, and at a nonexposed control site in Hawi, Hawaii. Typical trade winds and effusive eruption occurred during sampling in August–September 2003. Ambient SO₂ concentrations, measured with diffusion tubes, ranged from 6 to 34 ppbv and correlated negatively with altitude. In contrast, fine aerosol (0.3 µm size) concentrations, measured with a cascade impactor, ranged from 0.61 to 11.82 µg/m³ and correlated positively with altitude. We attribute decrease of SO₂ with altitude to rapid oxidation as diurnal wind patterns blow the plume from oceanic terrain landward to more abundant oxidation sources. Aerosol increase with altitude likely reflects emission of H₂SO₄ from Kilauea, supplemented by oxidation of SO₂ in atmospheric hydrosols. Kau residents are exposed to volcanogenic pollutants at concentrations that warrant concern for adverse health effects.

Key Words: medical geology • Kilauea • volcanic risk • sulfur dioxide • degassing • health