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Buckets of ash track tephra flux from Halema'uma'u Crater, Hawai'i

October 31, 2009

The 2008–2009 eruption at Kīlauea Volcano's summit made news because of its eight small discrete explosive eruptions and noxious volcanic smog (vog) created from outgassing sulfur dioxide. Less appreciated is the ongoing, weak, but continuous output of tephra, primarily ash, from the new open vent in Halema'uma'u Crater. This tephra holds clues to processes causing the eruption and forming the new crater-in-a-crater, and its flux is important to hazard evaluations.

The setting of the vent–easily accessible from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)—is unusually favorable for neardaily tracking of tephra mass flux during this small prolonged basaltic eruption. Recognizing this, scientists from HVO are collecting ash and documenting how ejection masses, components, and chemical compositions vary through time.

Publication Year 2009
Title Buckets of ash track tephra flux from Halema'uma'u Crater, Hawai'i
DOI 10.1029/2009EO460003
Authors Don Swanson, Kelly M. Wooten, Tim R. Orr
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Eos, Earth and Space Science News
Index ID 70192430
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Volcano Hazards Program; Volcano Science Center
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