Health Advisory Information
Visit the Current Conditions Website to find out about current conditions and the health advisory level. Short term exposure to high levels of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and particulate matter (PM2.5) can be harmful to human health at Hawai'i Volcanoes NP. These conditions occur naturally as a result of ongoing volcanic activity. USGS and NPS equiptment measures air quality in numerous locations around the park. Data from all of these these locations are used to create the advisory level. Specific information from the Kīlauea Visitor Center monitoring site is presented below.
- Good
- Moderate
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
- Unhealthy
- Very Unhealthy
- Hazardous
Meaning of Advisory Colors | Sulfur Dioxide Health Effects | Particulate Matter Health Effects
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a colorless air pollutant with a pungent odor. This gas can pose a threat to human health, animal health, and plant life. The primary sources of sulfur dioxide emissions are from fossil fuel combustion and natural volcanic activity.
CURRENT 1-Hour Average
CURRENT 15-Minute Average
- 0Good
- 0.1Moderate
- 0.2Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
- 1.0Unhealthy
- 3.0Very Unhealthy
- 5.0Hazardous
| Pollutant | Measurement | Hourly Average |
15-Minute Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| SO2 | Current | ||
| SO2 | Maximum Today | ||
| SO2 | Maximum Yesterday |
Sulfur Dioxide is measured in parts per million (ppm).
Data collected
Charts | Sulfur Dioxide Health Effects | Data Disclaimer
Air quality and weather data are typically displayed on this web page within a hour of their collection. As a result, data quality is not guaranteed for scientific and regulatory purposes. These data may be revised at a later time.
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a colorless air pollutant with a pungent odor. This gas can pose a threat to human health, animal health, and plant life. The primary sources of sulfur dioxide emissions are from fossil fuel combustion and natural volcanic activity.
CURRENT 1-Hour Average
CURRENT 15-Minute Average
- 0Good
- 0.1Moderate
- 0.2Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
- 1.0Unhealthy
- 3.0Very Unhealthy
- 5.0Hazardous
| Pollutant | Measurement | Hourly Average |
15-Minute Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| SO2 | Current | ||
| SO2 | Maximum Today | ||
| SO2 | Maximum Yesterday |
Sulfur Dioxide is measured in parts per million (ppm).
Data collected
Charts | Sulfur Dioxide Health Effects | Data Disclaimer
Air quality and weather data are typically displayed on this web page within a hour of their collection. As a result, data quality is not guaranteed for scientific and regulatory purposes. These data may be revised at a later time.
Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
Particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution includes wind-blown dust, smoke from burning fossil fuels, and smoke from forest and grassland fires. Particulate matter can affect humans and visibility.
Learn more about how particulate matter affects humans »
Learn more about how particulate matter affects visibility »
CURRENT 15-Minute Average
CURRENT 1-Hour Average
- 0Good
- 39Moderate
- 89Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
- 139Unhealthy
- 352Very Unhealthy
- 527Hazardous
| Pollutant | Measurement | 1-Hour Average |
24-Hour Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 | Current | ||
| PM2.5 | Maximum Today | ||
| PM2.5 | Maximum Yesterday |
Particulate Matter is measured in micrograms per cubic meter of air (ug/m3).
Data collected
Charts | Particulate Matter Health Effects | Data Disclaimer
Air quality and weather data are typically displayed on this web page within a hour of their collection. As a result, data quality is not guaranteed for scientific and regulatory purposes. These data may be revised at a later time.
Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
Particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution includes wind-blown dust, smoke from burning fossil fuels, and smoke from forest and grassland fires. Particulate matter can affect humans and visibility.
Learn more about how particulate matter affects humans »
Learn more about how particulate matter affects visibility »
CURRENT 15-Minute Average
CURRENT 1-Hour Average
- 0Good
- 39Moderate
- 89Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
- 139Unhealthy
- 352Very Unhealthy
- 527Hazardous
| Pollutant | Measurement | 1-Hour Average |
24-Hour Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 | Current | ||
| PM2.5 | Maximum Today | ||
| PM2.5 | Maximum Yesterday |
Particulate Matter is measured in micrograms per cubic meter of air (ug/m3).
Data collected
Charts | Particulate Matter Health Effects | Data Disclaimer
Air quality and weather data are typically displayed on this web page within a hour of their collection. As a result, data quality is not guaranteed for scientific and regulatory purposes. These data may be revised at a later time.
Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
Particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution includes wind-blown dust, smoke from burning fossil fuels, and smoke from forest and grassland fires. Particulate matter can affect humans and visibility.
Learn more about how particulate matter affects humans »
Learn more about how particulate matter affects visibility »
CURRENT Nowcast Air Quality Index
- 0Good
- 51Moderate
- 101Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
- 151Unhealthy
- 201Very Unhealthy
- 301Hazardous
- Today's Maximum PM2.5
- Nowcast Air Quality Index
- Yesterday's Maximum PM2.5
- Nowcast Air Quality Index
Particulate Matter measured by low cost sensors is reported using the Nowcast Air Quality Index.
Data collected
Charts | Particulate Matter Health Effects | Data Disclaimer
Air quality and weather data are typically displayed on this web page within a hour of their collection. As a result, data quality is not guaranteed for scientific and regulatory purposes. These data may be revised at a later time.
Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
Particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution includes wind-blown dust, smoke from burning fossil fuels, and smoke from forest and grassland fires. Particulate matter can affect humans and visibility.
Learn more about how particulate matter affects humans »
Learn more about how particulate matter affects visibility »
CURRENT Nowcast Air Quality Index
- 0Good
- 51Moderate
- 101Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
- 151Unhealthy
- 201Very Unhealthy
- 301Hazardous
- Today's Maximum PM2.5
- Nowcast Air Quality Index
- Yesterday's Maximum PM2.5
- Nowcast Air Quality Index
Particulate Matter measured by low cost sensors is reported using the Nowcast Air Quality Index.
Data collected
Charts | Particulate Matter Health Effects | Data Disclaimer
Air quality and weather data are typically displayed on this web page within a hour of their collection. As a result, data quality is not guaranteed for scientific and regulatory purposes. These data may be revised at a later time.
Visibility & Weather
Visibility
Visibility estimates are calculated from real-time measurements of light scattering and absorption by particles and gases. This does not include light scattering that results from the water in fog, rain, or snow. As a result, the calculated visibility can sometimes be very high (meaning there are very few particles or gasses in the air) while the actual visibility is quite low (during heavy rain, for example).
Fine particles and gaseous air pollution affect how far and how clearly we can see to some degree in every national park. Visibility estimates are a good way to track the impact of air pollution on how far we can see in parks.
Learn more about how air pollution affects visibility »
Weather
Information about local atmospheric conditions can be important for understanding air quality. Weather monitored in parks may include:
- Temperature
- degrees Fahrenheit (F) or Celsius (C)
- Wind
- Average hourly direction and speed in miles per hour (mph) or meters per second (m/s)
- Precipitation
- Inches per hour (in/hr) or millimeters per hour (mm/hr)
- Relative Humidity
- Percent (%)
- Peak wind speed
- Direction (North [N], South [S], East [E], West [W]) and speed in miles per hour (mph) or meters per second (m/s) of the highest hourly record
- Solar Radiation
- Watts per square meter (w/m2)
Visibility estimates are calculated from real-time measurements of light scattering and absorption by particles and gases. This does not include light scattering that results from the water in fog, rain, or snow. As a result, the calculated visibility can sometimes be very high (meaning there are very few particles or gasses in the air) while the actual visibility is quite low (during heavy rain, for example).
Fine particles and gaseous air pollution affect how far and how clearly we can see to some degree in every national park. Visibility estimates are a good way to track the impact of air pollution on how far we can see in parks.
Information about local atmospheric conditions can be important for understanding air quality. Weather monitored in parks may include:
- Temperature
- degrees Fahrenheit (F) or Celsius (C)
- Wind
- Average hourly direction and speed in miles per hour (mph) or meters per second (m/s)
- Precipitation
- Inches per hour (in/hr) or millimeters per hour (mm/hr)
- Relative Humidity
- Percent (%)
- Peak wind speed
- Direction (North [N], South [S], East [E], West [W]) and speed in miles per hour (mph) or meters per second (m/s) of the highest hourly record
- Solar Radiation
- Watts per square meter (w/m2)
Visibility
Yesterday:
MAX
MIN
Wind
Temperature
Yesterday:
MAX
MIN
Humidity
Yesterday:
MAX
MIN
Precipitation
Total Precipitation:
Today
Yesterday
Data collected
Charts | Understanding Visibility | Data Disclaimer
Air quality and weather data are typically displayed on this web page within a hour of their collection. As a result, data quality is not guaranteed for scientific and regulatory purposes. These data may be revised at a later time.
Visibility & Weather
Visibility
Visibility estimates are calculated from real-time measurements of light scattering and absorption by particles and gases. This does not include light scattering that results from the water in fog, rain, or snow. As a result, the calculated visibility can sometimes be very high (meaning there are very few particles or gasses in the air) while the actual visibility is quite low (during heavy rain, for example).
Fine particles and gaseous air pollution affect how far and how clearly we can see to some degree in every national park. Visibility estimates are a good way to track the impact of air pollution on how far we can see in parks.
Learn more about how air pollution affects visibility »
Weather
Information about local atmospheric conditions can be important for understanding air quality. Weather monitored in parks may include:
- Temperature
- degrees Fahrenheit (F) or Celsius (C)
- Wind
- Average hourly direction and speed in miles per hour (mph) or meters per second (m/s)
- Precipitation
- Inches per hour (in/hr) or millimeters per hour (mm/hr)
- Relative Humidity
- Percent (%)
- Peak wind speed
- Direction (North [N], South [S], East [E], West [W]) and speed in miles per hour (mph) or meters per second (m/s) of the highest hourly record
- Solar Radiation
- Watts per square meter (w/m2)
Visibility estimates are calculated from real-time measurements of light scattering and absorption by particles and gases. This does not include light scattering that results from the water in fog, rain, or snow. As a result, the calculated visibility can sometimes be very high (meaning there are very few particles or gasses in the air) while the actual visibility is quite low (during heavy rain, for example).
Fine particles and gaseous air pollution affect how far and how clearly we can see to some degree in every national park. Visibility estimates are a good way to track the impact of air pollution on how far we can see in parks.
Information about local atmospheric conditions can be important for understanding air quality. Weather monitored in parks may include:
- Temperature
- degrees Fahrenheit (F) or Celsius (C)
- Wind
- Average hourly direction and speed in miles per hour (mph) or meters per second (m/s)
- Precipitation
- Inches per hour (in/hr) or millimeters per hour (mm/hr)
- Relative Humidity
- Percent (%)
- Peak wind speed
- Direction (North [N], South [S], East [E], West [W]) and speed in miles per hour (mph) or meters per second (m/s) of the highest hourly record
- Solar Radiation
- Watts per square meter (w/m2)
Visibility
Yesterday:
MAX
MIN
Wind
Temperature
Yesterday:
MAX
MIN
Humidity
Yesterday:
MAX
MIN
Precipitation
Total Precipitation:
Today
Yesterday
Data collected
Charts | Understanding Visibility | Data Disclaimer
Air quality and weather data are typically displayed on this web page within a hour of their collection. As a result, data quality is not guaranteed for scientific and regulatory purposes. These data may be revised at a later time.