Eruption of Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii – Conspiracies and Science

[Mick West]

The ongoing eruption of Kilauea is interesting for a number of Metabunk related reasons.

Firstly there's the association of volcanos with the solar radiation management proposals in the field of geoengineering. Volcanoes spew a lot of sulphur dioxide and ash into the air which (simplifying) makes it hazy and reflects sunlight back into space. This most famously happened with Mount Pinatubo in 1991
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Volcano/

When Mount Pinatubo erupted in the Philippines June 15, 1991, an estimated 20 million tons of sulfur dioxide and ash particles blasted more than 12 miles (20 km) high into the atmosphere. The eruption caused widespread destruction and loss of human life. Gases and solids injected into the stratosphere circled the globe for three weeks. Volcanic eruptions of this magnitude can impact global climate, reducing the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface, lowering temperatures in the troposphere, and changing atmospheric circulation patterns. The extent to which this occurs is an ongoing debate.
Large-scale volcanic activity may last only a few days, but the massive outpouring of gases and ash can influence climate patterns for years. Sulfuric gases convert to sulfate aerosols, sub-micron droplets containing about 75 percent sulfuric acid. Following eruptions, these aerosol particles can linger as long as three to four years in the stratosphere.

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Kilauea is a very different type of eruption — more like a big gas leak than a huge explosion, but it's still (like most active volcanos) a source of sulfur dioxide and a factor in the global climate. Studying how the increase in emissions affects things will tell us a little more about how we might use similar mechanisms for geoengineering — or how we might not want to use them if the side effects are worse than the cure. Drawing attention to the real science of geoengineering is a valuable way of reaching people who are convinced that the government is already secretly doing geoengineering with "chemtrails" being sprayed from planes.

An even more extreme conspiracy theory is that the eruption was triggered deliberately, perhaps with a supposed mega-weapon like HAARP (which is incapable of doing anything other than briefly exciting a tiny spot of the atmosphere on the edge of space above Alaska). The reasons given for doing this will likely be related to the "Agenda 21" conspiracy theory, which says the elite want to drive people from their land and force them to live in city apartments so the elite can have the countryside for safaris and suchlike. This (fringe) belief will be bolstered by the affected land being "homesteads" – a house with a few acres.

As that's such a nonsensical and scientifically implausible theory it's a bit tricky to address, especially with the mix of strongly felt libertarian politics. But perhaps the coverage of Kilauea will help a few people better understand the science behind eruptions, and how they are both inevitable and currently beyond the control of humanity.

Finally the images of red hot lava rolling over people's lawns and around trees might help a few people understand the problems with the theory that unburnt trees next to burnt-out houses is evidence that the houses were zapped with energy beams from space (again as part of agenda 21). Having a very hot thing a few feet from a tree does not automatically mean the tree bursts into flames.

For me and millions of school kids, volcanoes have always been associated with a fun and accessible side of science. Hopefully the net result of the current attention on Kilauea will be a rise in interesting in that science, and not a rise in interest in unfounded conspiracy theories.


References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_lower_Puna_eruption

Location Hawaii island, Hawaii, United States 19.463°N 154.899°W
Impact Lava fountains, lava flows, volcanic gas and earthquakes have forced evacuation in populated areas and caused the destruction of houses, roads and utilities.
The 2018 lower Puna eruption, which began May 3, 2018 is an ongoing volcanic event on the island of Hawaii on Kīlauea volcano’s East Rift Zone featuring outbreaks of lava fountains up to 300 feet (90 m) high, lava flows and volcanic gas in the Leilani Estates subdivision on the island of Hawai’i. As of May 6, 2018, the eruption has resulted in the destruction of 26 houses in the subdivision. This volcanic event is the 62nd episode of the ongoing east rift zone eruption that began in January 1983.
[Above image] Lava from a fissure slowly advanced to the northeast on Hoʻokāpu Street in Leilani Estates subdivision (May 5, 2018)

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[Nada Truther]

The reasons given for doing this will likely be related to the "Agenda 21" conspiracy theory, which says the elite want to drive people from their land and force them to live in city apartments so the elite can have the countryside for safaris and suchlike.

Why would the Elite want to take away land that they purposefully covered with lave using their space beams and top secret science?

That is like making someone not want to eat their sandwich by peeing on it..... That way you can have it once they don't want it.

Kinda ruins it for the "winner", I would say.

 

[deirdre]

Why would the Elite want to take away land that they purposefully covered with lave using their space beams and top secret science?

I think volcanos are good for soil. maybe they want to grow opium.

 

[Mick West]

Why would the Elite want to take away land that they purposefully covered with lave using their space beams and top secret science?

They only have to spread a bit of lava and toxic gas to get everyone to move. In theory.

 

[Joe]

They only have to spread a bit of lava and toxic gas to get everyone to move. In theory.

In theory anyone who lives close to a active volcano should have never moved there in the first place .

 

[Mick West]

In theory anyone who lives close to a active volcano should have never moved there in the first place .

They rolled the dice, like with hurricanes, forest fires, and earthquakes.

 

[Landru]

They rolled the dice, like with hurricanes, forest fires, and earthquakes.

A bit more so here as this volcano has been erupting continuously since 1983.

 

[Trailblazer]

I read an interesting article yesterday on the people who moved back in to an area a few miles away from the current lava flows, which was first buried under lava in 1990. Roads have been resurveyed and carved out of the lava, and houses have been put up, despite the lack of utility services. If "Agenda 21" is meant to be keeping people off the land, it's not doing very well.

http://www.honolulumagazine.com/Honolulu-Magazine/August-2012/The-Lava-Dwellers-Big-Island-Hawaii/

Source: https://youtu.be/fiPtwcyvhG4

The east flank of Kīlauea volcano is a land of fire, sulfur dioxide and rock that cuts like glass. This is Pele’s realm, where the molten core of the planet spills through a slit in the crust, advancing and retreating across the surface in utterly unpredictable ways. It is either the end of the earth or the beginning of creation, depending on how you look at it. Either way, it’s no place for a subdivision. Yet, there it is, Kalapana Gardens, a neighborhood of more than 30 homes spread out across the barren flow field at the end of Kaimu-Chain of Craters Road, where the asphalt melted beneath the lava in 2011. Pele has already burned three houses to the ground, then covered that ground with even newer ground. But new homes keep popping up.

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[Whitebeard]

I read an interesting article yesterday on the people who moved back in to an area a few miles away from the current lava flows, which was first buried under lava in 1990. Roads have been resurveyed and carved out of the lava, and houses have been put up, despite the lack of utility services. If "Agenda 21" is meant to be keeping people off the land, it's not doing very well.

http://www.honolulumagazine.com/Honolulu-Magazine/August-2012/The-Lava-Dwellers-Big-Island-Hawaii/

Source: https://youtu.be/fiPtwcyvhG4

The east flank of Kīlauea volcano is a land of fire, sulfur dioxide and rock that cuts like glass. This is Pele’s realm, where the molten core of the planet spills through a slit in the crust, advancing and retreating across the surface in utterly unpredictable ways. It is either the end of the earth or the beginning of creation, depending on how you look at it. Either way, it’s no place for a subdivision. Yet, there it is, Kalapana Gardens, a neighborhood of more than 30 homes spread out across the barren flow field at the end of Kaimu-Chain of Craters Road, where the asphalt melted beneath the lava in 2011. Pele has already burned three houses to the ground, then covered that ground with even newer ground. But new homes keep popping up.

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Similar situation on Heimaey, Iceland. About half the town was buired by a lava flow in 1973, The other half was only saved by spraying sea water onto the flow to cool and channel the flow .Now the town is growing and the buried part is slowly being chipped out of the lava and ash.

 

[marrowmonkey]

Why are people around the globe building houses down by the shore despite the well known fact that the sea-level is going to be about 1 meter higher in 100 years?

Or why did people in Japan build houses (entire towns) close to the beach even though they knew about the risk of tsunamis:

These Century-Old Stone “Tsunami Stones” Dot Japan’s Coastline
“Remember the calamity of the great tsunamis. Do not build any homes below this point.”

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https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smar...inst-tsunamis-dot-japans-coastline-180956448/

Or why are many some world leaders wilfully ignoring climate change and the need to curb greenhouse gas emissions?

 

[Mick West]

A bit more so here as this volcano has been erupting continuously since 1983.

The US Caribbean and East coasts have been hit by devastating hurricanes for millions of years. I doubt they actually calculate the odds, but people tend to think if a particular spot has not been hit in a few hundred years they will be fine.

 

[Whitebeard]

The US Caribbean and East coasts have been hit by devastating hurricanes for millions of years. I doubt they actually calculate the odds, but people tend to think if a particular spot has not been hit in a few hundred years they will be fine.

Not to mention the advantages of certain locations such as fertile soil, access to natural resourses, access to transport routes (including the sea) etc - can out weigh the possible dangers of hurricanes, eathquakes, volcanic erruptions etc.

 

[Joe]

I read an interesting article yesterday on the people who moved back in to an area a few miles away from the current lava flows, which was first buried under lava in 1990. Roads have been resurveyed and carved out of the lava, and houses have been put up, despite the lack of utility services. If "Agenda 21" is meant to be keeping people off the land, it's not doing very well.

http://www.honolulumagazine.com/Honolulu-Magazine/August-2012/The-Lava-Dwellers-Big-Island-Hawaii/

Source: https://youtu.be/fiPtwcyvhG4

The east flank of Kīlauea volcano is a land of fire, sulfur dioxide and rock that cuts like glass. This is Pele’s realm, where the molten core of the planet spills through a slit in the crust, advancing and retreating across the surface in utterly unpredictable ways. It is either the end of the earth or the beginning of creation, depending on how you look at it. Either way, it’s no place for a subdivision. Yet, there it is, Kalapana Gardens, a neighborhood of more than 30 homes spread out across the barren flow field at the end of Kaimu-Chain of Craters Road, where the asphalt melted beneath the lava in 2011. Pele has already burned three houses to the ground, then covered that ground with even newer ground. But new homes keep popping up.

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Seems that couple likes the Kona Gold Wow 5000 a lot on a lava flow . Id take the chance for that price .

 

[Joe]

The US Caribbean and East coasts have been hit by devastating hurricanes for millions of years. I doubt they actually calculate the odds, but people tend to think if a particular spot has not been hit in a few hundred years they will be fine.

Yes but our property is always there even if our houses blow away we can rebuild .

 

[Landru]

The US Caribbean and East coasts have been hit by devastating hurricanes for millions of years. I doubt they actually calculate the odds, but people tend to think if a particular spot has not been hit in a few hundred years they will be fine.

My point (which I did not make very clear) is that everyone on Hilo side knows they live on borrowed time due to the near constant threat of lava flow.

 

[Mick West]

Looks like it might progress beyond oozing lava:
https://apnews.com/8906337a5bf84f2f...Hawaii-volcano-could-have-explosive-eruption?

Geologists say Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano could erupt explosively and send boulders, rocks and ash into the air around its summit caldera in coming weeks.

The U.S. Geological Survey said Wednesday the risk will rise if the lava drops below the groundwater level beneath the summit’s caldera or craterlike basin. That’s because an influx of water inside could cause steam-driven explosions.

The agency says the volcano may eject blocks up to two yards (meters) in diameter a little less than a mile (a kilometer) away.

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[Leifer]

I've been monitoring the Kilauea earthquake activity. I find it interesting.
USGS has their Real-time (almost) earthquake notification map.
I have it set to Hawaii area, and on "satellite view" (because you can see a plume)
(settings are found in the upper right of the page)
(I think Google Earth has a similar function, reporting)


USGS LINK

 

[Leifer]

...and they also have live web-cams.
But they are often not working, or are snapshots every hour or so (??)....
HERE

 

[Leifer]

Looks like it might progress beyond oozing lava:
https://apnews.com/8906337a5bf84f2f...Hawaii-volcano-could-have-explosive-eruption?

Geologists say Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano could erupt explosively and send boulders, rocks and ash into the air around its summit caldera in coming weeks.

The U.S. Geological Survey said Wednesday the risk will rise if the lava drops below the groundwater level beneath the summit’s caldera or craterlike basin. That’s because an influx of water inside could cause steam-driven explosions.

The agency says the volcano may eject blocks up to two yards (meters) in diameter a little less than a mile (a kilometer) away.

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Yes.... if the caldera lava sinks below the water table....ground water might form a temporary crust, which at some point may explode like a cork off a champagne bottle. (extreme example)

...or spatter in your kitchen like when water is dropped into hot oil. (practical example)

 

[Marlin Angell]

First of all I moved here a year ago and I live in the affected area, I don't see that anyone else speaking in here has 'boots on the ground' experience with this situation to understand exactly what's going on.

Secondly, this isn't a Mt. Saint Helen's or Pompeii style Volcano, it's a 'shield volcano', so go ahead and research what that means to better understand why us ignorant swine would possibly move out here.

Third, we live here because land is cheap and government, generally speaking, stays the hell out of our business here because so many people do assume that this isn't a safe place to live. Truth is this region is much safer than most places I've lived for a number of reasons, but let's just address the lava: Have you seen any reports of ANY CASUALTIES WHATSOEVER FROM THIS VOLCANIC EVENT? No? Do you know why?

Clearly you don't as reading this thread has shown me. The reason why is that we get PLENTY of forewarning here before an event, an event the size we are experiencing now has not taken place since 1955 and this one so far is perfectly mimicking that one so we know EXACTLY WHERE IT WILL HIT US NEXT!!!

Finally let me address this fear porn about the volcano exploding on our heads: The Kileau crater is so far away from all population centers that the odds of some rocks shooting out of it and landing on someone are almost nil when the park is closed as it is now.

I'm sure we can all agree that risk is inherit in life and there is a trade of anywhere you life, the trade off here on the Island of Hawaii is this: possible lava flow over your land in certain regions in exchange for living in one of the most lush and beautiful places on earth on the cheap.

 

[Marlin Angell]

My point (which I did not make very clear) is that everyone on Hilo side knows they live on borrowed time due to the near constant threat of lava flow.

First of all no lava is ever going to flow on Hilo, you don't understand how this island has evolved.

Secondly: Even in Puna we aren't: 'living on borrowed time'. If an event occurs we move or we leave. No one dies in these situations...not with dozens of volcanologists living here permanently using state of the art equipment to constantly monitor the situation!!!

You guys do realize that Hawaii is still in the United States of America and that we have a University here, right?

This island is mapped out into 7 different lava zones:
lava zone 0: lava is currently flowing there.
lava zone 1: lava could be flowing there in 5 minutes
lava zone 2: lava could be flowing there in 5 hours
lava zone 3: lava could be flowing there in 5 months
lava zone 4: lava could be flowing there in 5 decades
lava zone 5: lava could be flowing there in 500 years
lava zone 6: lava could be flowing there in 5 millenia
(metabunk version of the explanation)

The people who were living in lava zone 1 rolled the dice and regret it right now...the rest of us are fine.

 

[deirdre]

You guys do realize that Hawaii is still in the United States of America and that we have a University here, right?

This University? Is that blue area not Hilo? (I'm not familiar with Hawaii, so I'm asking a sincere question)
http://www.hilo.hawaii.edu/~nat_haz/volcanoes/riftzones.php

Secondly: Even in Puna we aren't: 'living on borrowed time'. If an event occurs we move or we leave.

I think that is what "borrowed time" means.

 

[Marlin Angell]

As far as the conspiracy theory goes, I started to become aware of it dimly the last few days as I had a couple Facebook friends mention it.

Ordinarily I'm inclined to take conspiracy theories seriously, at least when I first encounter them as I consider conspiracy behavior to be an inherit sociological byproduct of human psychology, but in this case I'm not at all inclined to believe that the 'Elite' are 'targeting' the Big Island in order to cause us 'riff raff' to flee so that they can buy up our land for pennies on the dollar.

Not that they couldn't I suppose, but what would be the point? This area IS inherently unstable, people like the so called Elite wouldn't be interested in this area, they have bigger fish to fry as it were.

 

[Marlin Angell]

This University? Is that blue area not Hilo? (I'm not familiar with Hawaii, so I'm asking a sincere question)
http://www.hilo.hawaii.edu/~nat_haz/volcanoes/riftzones.php

Indeed the blue area is, and as you can see only a tiny bit of red touches near there.

I think that is what "borrowed time" means.

I don't. I think it means that we expect an immanent event. Maybe. Maybe if you are dumb enough to buy in the 'rift zone' of lava zone 1 that regularly does this. But the other thousands and thousands of acres that is the Big Island? Hardly. You need to come here and see exactly how much land we are talking about.

 

[Marlin Angell]

This University? Is that blue area not Hilo? (I'm not familiar with Hawaii, so I'm asking a sincere question)
http://www.hilo.hawaii.edu/~nat_haz/volcanoes/riftzones.php

This image is deceiving btw for the fact that Mana Loa no longer erupts, and no one expects it ever to again. Just because lava flowed down from it in the last 200 years doesn't mean that it's active now.

 

[Marlin Angell]

http://www.hilo.hawaii.edu/~nat_haz/volcanoes/contour_rift_zones.jpg



This is a more relevant picture, it shows the 'rift zones', where lava zone 1 is.

These rifts are where the fissures are currently opening up and where they did before in 1955.

Why people buy land there I do not know.

 

[deirdre]

This image is deceiving btw for the fact that Mana Loa no longer erupts, and no one expects it ever to again. Just because lava flowed down from it in the last 200 years doesn't mean that it's active now.

in fairness you've edited your comment 8 times.



Please read the posting guidelines for Metabunk. It is helpful to readers if you provide information from trusted source links, when making statements. Maps of the 'zones' etc would be appreciated if your intention is to educate.

I looked up the zones:

http://lureofhawaii.com/thevolcanoes.html

 

[Marlin Angell]

in fairness you've edited your comment 8 times.



Please read the posting guidelines for Metabunk. It is helpful to readers if you provide information from trusted source links, when making statements. Maps of the 'zones' etc would be appreciated if your intention is to educate.

I looked up the zones:

http://lureofhawaii.com/thevolcanoes.html

I hardly see your point?

I've already achieved what I set it to: educate this forum on the reality of the situation here. The fact is not all of us living here are the imbeciles we we're being made out to be, we are all very aware of the inherint dangers here and which areas are worse than others.

 

[Marlin Angell]

I moved to Hawaii for several reasons:

1. Fracking was starting to be done in my region and I've seen the gasland movies.

2. I had lived in Texas and Florida where sinkholes swallowed people up without any warnings, unlike the fissures here.

3. North America is running out of water. Hawaii won't run out of water within my lifetime.

I think living here in the long run is safer than living in the USA mainland.

 

[marrowmonkey]

If zone 2 land is a lot cheaper I guess it might be some peoples only chance to own a plot of land? The fear of loosing that might lead to such conspiracy theories perhaps.

3. North America is running out of water. Hawaii won't run out of water within my lifetime.

Freshwater is unevenly distributed on the earth, that is the case in North America as well. Freshwater originally comes from rainwater, and it's not going to stop raining. So on average we are not going to "run out". Some areas have plenty, others doesn't have enough. Locally the situation might get worse because climate change makes weather patterns change. Especially areas that rely on glacial runoff.

It might be a problem to get clean drinking water if the ground is poisoned. But as long as we take care and don't poison the land, and manage the water supplies, there's no reason to fear we will run out of water. Certainly, many areas in North America have plenty of clean freshwater.

 

[Landru]

First of all no lava is ever going to flow on Hilo, you don't understand how this island has evolved.

Secondly: Even in Puna we aren't: 'living on borrowed time'. If an event occurs we move or we leave. No one dies in these situations...not with dozens of volcanologists living here permanently using state of the art equipment to constantly monitor the situation!!!

You guys do realize that Hawaii is still in the United States of America and that we have a University here, right?

This island is mapped out into 7 different lava zones:
lava zone 0: lava is currently flowing there.
lava zone 1: lava could be flowing there in 5 minutes
lava zone 2: lava could be flowing there in 5 hours
lava zone 3: lava could be flowing there in 5 months
lava zone 4: lava could be flowing there in 5 decades
lava zone 5: lava could be flowing there in 500 years
lava zone 6: lava could be flowing there in 5 millenia
(metabunk version of the explanation)

The people who were living in lava zone 1 rolled the dice and regret it right now...the rest of us are fine.

Lava isn't the only threat. A tsunami hit Hilo in 1960. Hilo is partially built on lava flows from an eruption in the late 19th century.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauna_Loa?wprov=sfla1
There is a reason the land is cheap.

 

[Leifer]

I moved to Hawaii for several reasons:
1. Fracking was starting to be done in my region and I've seen the gasland movies.
2. I had lived in Texas and Florida where sinkholes swallowed people up without any warnings, unlike the fissures here.
3. North America is running out of water. Hawaii won't run out of water within my lifetime.
I think living here in the long run is safer than living in the USA mainland.

This is a planet, and we live within the forces of nature. We either adapt or agree to the risks. Every area on earth has it's hazards. I'm in LA, CA, and we have droughts and earthquakes (and compounded by overpopulation).
In HI, it's generally hurricanes, tsunami, volcanoes and their effects..
But if the shit-hits-the-fan (world-wide or even semi-world-wide)... Hawaii could be cut-off to many essentials because it relies heavily on imports.


But Marlin Angell, I do enjoy your "boots-on-the-ground" information. I find local information very useful, and worthy.
Can you find other statements of misinformation regarding the recent events? Can you list them ? I'm interested.
I am getting my info from statements from the USGS, scientists from the University of Hawaii @ Hilo , etc.... not just casual on-line opinions.

 

[Arbitrary]

This image is deceiving btw for the fact that Mana Loa no longer erupts, and no one expects it ever to again. Just because lava flowed down from it in the last 200 years doesn't mean that it's active now.

Surely it is 'active' though? The USGS are monitoring it as if it is currently active - they list it as Yellow/Advisory.
https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna_loa/
And the data page shows some (very slow) deformation of the summit caldera suggestive of inflation by magma.

For a volcano believed to have 'only' taken 300,000 years to build up to a 4km high mountain, taking the lack of lava flows in the Hilo area for the last 200 years as an indication of safety seems slightly optimistic.

 

[Rory]

Anybody know if the ISS live feed picked up the smoke plume? That would be cool.

I see that some astronauts up there have taken their own pics:


http://time.com/5277626/hawaii-kilauea-volcano-eruption-space/

 

[Leifer]

Recent theories are erupting (pardon the pun) that the Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV, a geothermal power plant) may be responsible for the recent opening of lava fissures... because of "fracking", supposedly implemented by the plant.
But I cannot find any official description of fracking practices by PGV.

In fact, bill # HI SB2940 was passed in Hawaii (2014) prohibiting the use of fracking, state-wide.
An Aljazeera America article covers some of the details and conceptions/misconceptions, and here are some highlights...(bold by me)

Some geothermal developers, including PGV’s parent company, Ormat Technologies, have begun to experiment with a process called “enhanced geothermal systems,” or EGS, in which pressurized water is injected into the earth to open rock fissures underground, making room for steam and liquid that can be heated by the geothermal rock. The difference is that EGS is used to open existing rock fissures rather than create new ones, and the water injected into the ground generally matches that naturally found at the surface: It contains some minerals, but no chemicals or sand. EGS can also cause tiny earthquakes.

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and...

How fracking is defined in Hawaii will have consequences for geothermal development. Last September, state Sen. Russell Ruderman, a Democrat and an ally of the Puna Pono Alliance, pushed through legislation outlawing fracking of any kind in Hawaii. Some believe that simply injecting water and steam into the earth to extract heat, as all geothermal operations do, fits the description.

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Below is one of the videos proposing that "fracturing" may be (is) responsible for the current lava vent eruptions. But so far, this idea seems to be unrelated, and might be just ideas created to lay blame to power companies (with Rothchild and Israeli ties).
This conspiracy idea is described, beginning @ 10:21 in the video below....(skip forward to view)