However we are in our first doldrum period of the winter which has brought the vog from the now 29 year old eruption of Kilauea into town for the past two mornings. When the tradewinds go away which is normal in the winter months from time to time, the air mass becomes almost non-movable and the vog will blanket the entire island chain until the trades return.
Yesterday was the 29th anniversary of the start of this eruption and there is no sign whatsoever of letup. This is the longest continuous eruption to take place on Kilauea for about 500 years. That one lasted 80 years.
I went up to the Volcanoes National Park last night to hear a presentation by one of the USGS geologists, Tim Orr, give a talk and slide show on what is happening now. Most of the pictures and time lapse photos were done by him on foot mostly but occasionally by helicopter. The auditorium was packed 'to the gills' with Big Islanders.
They will be doing a lot of such presentations this month all over the island this month as it is our annual 'Volcano Awareness Month'. I expect to attend at least two more this month that will take place here in Hilo.
And the beat goes on.
