Earth Observation taken by the STS-125 Crew

S125-E-006569 (13 May 2009) --- Hawaiian vog from Kilauea volcano, on the island of Hawaii, has been erupting continuously since 1983. This image, taken by the crew of Space Shuttle Atlantis (after completing the capture of the Hubble Space Telescope), shows the volcanic plumes from Kilauea rising up from Halema`uma`u Crater and along the coastline from lava flows entering the ocean from the East rift zone. The volcanic activity has created a blanket of volcanic fog, called vog that envelops the island. The Hawaii Volcano Observatory (HVO) maintains a website (including webcams) that continuously monitors and updates reports on the volcanic activity. Recent maps indicate expanded lava coverage along the coastal plain. In addition, Hawaii?s Department of Health maintains daily vog alerts, and publishes advisories for vog conditions around the ?big island? of Hawaii and the state. When this image was acquired, the region west of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (downwind from the coastal plumes) had a vog advisory for people with respiratory sensitivities. The Volcano Observatory also reported that ?Lava from east rift zone vents continues to flow through tubes to the coast and is entering the ocean at two locations west of Kalapana. Sulfur dioxide emission rates from the Halema`uma`u and Pu`u `O`o vents remain elevated. Sulfur dioxide emission rates remain elevated and variable; the most recent rate measurement was 1,200 tonnes/day on May 12, compared to the 2003-2007 average rate of 140 tonnes/day. Small amounts of mostly ash-sized tephra continue to be produced consisting mostly of Pele's hair -- irregular pieces of vesicular glass -- and a few hollow spherules.?