Images

Volunteers preparing meals in governmental relief camp in Dujianyan.

Cracked facade of damaged apartment building in Dujiangyan.

U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory perched on the rim of Kīlauea Volcano's summit caldera, Hawai‘i

Close view of the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (right, with viewing tower) and National Park Service Jaggar Museum and overlook (left) on Kīlauea Volcano's caldera rim. At least three fault blocks can be seen below the observatory, which developed when Kīlauea's summit collapsed about 500 years ago to form the present-day caldera.

Gas plume drifts southwest in the tradewinds over the Halema‘uma‘u Crater parking lot and Crater Rim Drive. View is toward the east-northeast. From left to right, the broad cones on the skyline are Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō (note steam plume), and the Kane Nui o Hamo and Mauna Ulu shields.

This section of Crater Rim Drive in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park was closed in February 2008 because of the high concentration of volcanic gas blowing across the road from Halema‘uma‘u Crater by prevailing trade winds. The concentration of sulfur dioxide gas in this area is considered hazardous to human health.

Volcanic air pollution, commonly called volcanic smog or vog, at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano created by the gas plume rising from Halema‘uma‘u Crater during slack tradewinds. High vog levels result in regionally hazy sky conditions that degrade air clarity and reduce visibility for everyone.

Volcanic-gas plume rises from Halema‘uma‘u Crater as seen from the Jaggar Museum (Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park) viewing area next to the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

Volcanic-gas plume rising from summit of Kīlauea Volcano as seen from Highway 11, Hawai‘i

Volcanic gas plume rises from Halema‘uma‘u Crater, Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i

Volcanic gas plume rises from Halema‘uma‘u Crater, Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i

Roof Cleaning in Futaleufu, Chile, following the 2008 eruption of Chaitén volcano. Note that the person should be protected from falling and should not be placing the shovel in contact with the roof, which could cause damage.

The USGS gages the St. John River at Fort Kent, Maine at Station 01014000. A major flood in 2008 was the highest flow measured at this station, based on record going back to the 1920s. This photo shows the International Bridge in Ft. Kent, right at the water surface of the flooded river.

Strong tradewinds blow the gas plume from the Overlook vent in Halema‘uma‘u Crater to the southwest. Photograph taken at 4:37 a.m. HST.

Kīlauea Volcano's summit vent within Halema‘uma‘u Crater was about 115 feet in diameter in April 2008, a month after it opened. 

A small explosion in the early morning hours on April 16, 2008, from the new Halema‘uma‘u vent (below the white gas plume, left) blasted rock fragments less than 4 mm above the crater rim. Wind blew the ash plume southwest across Crater Rim Drive. Geologists' truck leaves tracks in the pale-red ash several millimeters thick on the roadway.

Ash and other lava fragments erupted from the new vent in HALE‘Ama‘uMAU Crater were collected almost daily from several wooden "tear catchers" located near the crater rim and from many more plastic buckets nearby. Six years later, ash collections are still made several times a week.

Gas plume rising from the new Overlook Vent in Halema‘uma‘u Crater, Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i. Trade winds blow the plume to the southwest.

Road sign on Highway 11 warning drivers of high sulfur dioxide gas concentrations in the area from Kīlauea volcano. The temporary sign was put in place by Hawai‘i County Civil Defense, the agency responsible for public safety.

Road sign on Highway 11 advises drivers to roll up windows to protect themselves from high sulfur dioxide gas concentrations Kīlauea volcano on April 9, 2008. The temporary sign was put in place by Hawai‘i County Civil Defense, the agency responsible for public safety.

A plume of volcanic gases (chiefly water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide), tiny lava and rock particles, and droplets drifts southwest in the tradewinds from Halema‘uma‘u Crater.