Vog is Volcanic Smog

You've probably heard that Hawaii's Kilauea developed a new vent back in March that has been spewing out volcanic fumes. The fumes from the volcano react with the air and water to produce vog, or volcanic smog. Volcanoes National Park was closed for a bit last month because of the fumes. It's nasty stuff... sulfur dioxide. The same gas is produced from burning fossil fuels, so except that it comes from a volcano, vog is the same as smog. Sulfur dioxide from either source forms a haze when the sunlight reacts it with other gases in air. The reaction with water produces acid rain. What does this mean for Hawaii? It's nothing new, since Kilauea has had an active vent for a long time. The vog is substantially worse than it was, however, causing damage to certain crops and asthma-like symptoms in some people.

Hawaii Chemistry | Green Sand Beach
Photo: Visitors to Volcanoes National Park are warned of the potential hazards associated with breathing fumes from volcanic vents. (Anne Helmenstine)