Hawaii Introduces Volcano Awareness Month Since Erupting Is So Hot Right Now

January 5, 2010 at 1:04 PM | by kjb | 0 Comments

Thanks to a proclamation from the Hawaii County mayor, January is officially Volcano Awareness Month. Throughout the month the US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park�among other local organizations�are teaming up to share their knowledge and understanding about all things lava.

In addition to the usual offerings within the Big Island�s national park, there are going to be loads more programs, talks, and hikes focused on better understanding what the heck is happening both above and below the earth. Volcanologists will be on hand every Tuesday to answer questions about Kilauea and probably anything else you want to throw at them. On Saturdays, groups can meet up with a park ranger to head on a hike into the Kilauea caldera�it�s just shy of three miles round-trip. For those that are a little more into entertainment, January 16 is the day to learn all about a special hula that tells the story of Pele�the goddess of fire, not the famous soccer player.

It�s been 27 years since Kilauea�s east rift zone eruption began, and scientists want everyone to know about the latest developments and what could happen next. There will even be lectures outside of the national park at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. One on January 29 even invites guests to BYON�bring your own nose�as everyone tries their best to identify different volcanic gases. We love some education, but we might choose to pass on the funny gas lecture�mostly because we�re too immature to not make jokes the whole time.

Although volcano month is a Hawaii thing, other volcanoes around the globe are getting a little frisky too. They must have heard of all the excitement in paradise and gotten a little jealous. If Hawaii isn�t in the cards for you this month, check out what�s shaking and quaking elsewhere on earth. Just remember to be careful, because these ones are little less predictable.

· The Galeras volcano in Columbia has recently erupted causing the evacuation of around 8,000 people. Everyone is doing fine right now and things have settled down, but that doesn�t mean the volcano will remain quiet in 2010.

· Things in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been heating up thanks to lava coming from Mount Nyamulagira. As of today lava flows are approaching 3 miles in length and are over 40-feet wide in some spots. People aren�t in danger at this point, but there are a lot of wild critters that might be in its path.

· The Mayon volcano in the Philippines was putting on a show not too long ago, and it forced over 40,000 villagers to seek shelter outside of its potential reach. Things have calmed down, and scientists have reduced its threat level. Residents are headed home, but it�s clear that they�ll have their eyes on the horizon for much of the foreseeable future.

Related Stories:
· January 2010 Proclaimed Volcano Awareness Month [USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory]
· Colombian Volcano Erupts, Evacuation Ordered [Reuters]
· Lava Gains Speed in Congo Park [IOL]
· Philippine Volcano Calming; Thousands Head Home [Washington Post]
· Science Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of the lava action in Hawaii: aprilandrandy]

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