Baseline Air Quality Kilauea East Rift Zone, Hawaii

Abstract

The Kilauea East Rift, island of Hawaii is the site of proposed geothermal development. Baseline air quality along the Kilauea East Rift has been documented by a series of environmental studies. Baseline concentrations of particles, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, mercury, and radon have been monitored. The chemical content of particles and rainwater has been measured. From the chemical data, the sources of particles and the sources of pollutants continued into rainwater were determined. In addition to volcanic emissions, sources of atmospheric particles and gases included sea salt, dust, vehicular exhaust, smoke, anaerobic respiration (H2S) and vegative material. In general, the air quality along the Kilauea East Rift was determined to be very good with exceptions of short periods of volcanic eruptions or at locations downwind of fumaroles.