THE VOG What is vog Vog is volcanic

THE VOG

What is vog? Vog is volcanic smog, a white, fog-like haze that forms when the sulfur dioxide (SO 2) released from a volcano combines with water vapor and oxygen in the presence of sunlight. It smells like the scent of a match being struck. It is potentially hazardous to some forms of life, including humans.

Connection to Elements! • Sulfur dioxide (SO 2) is made up of the elements… • Sulfur and oxygen • It mixes with… • Water (H 2 O) and Oxygen (O 2) • It is called… • VOG!

Volcano Cam: Kilauea Take a Look at the Vog!

Shield Volcanoes • • Lava forms gentle slopes Generally, not violent Cover a large area How the Hawaiian Islands formed

Shield volcanoes vs. Other types

What happens when you open a bottle of soda? • Predict • Why does this happen? When you open the bottle up, the air in the bottle escapes. This takes the pressure off of the gasses dissolved in the liquid, causing them to rise up. (When you shake it, you give it more energy to do this and that can cause the soda to “explode” out)

Why do scientists study vog? • Kills native flowers • Affects health of people • Health effects – exposure vary greatly among individuals – People with pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema and bronchitis are more prone to the adverse effects of the vog. – Common symptoms include the following: • • Headaches Breathing difficulties Increased susceptibility to respiratory ailments Watery eyes

What do you think? Do you think people should live with vog? Or do you think they should move? We can find ways to adapt to our surroundings.

How can people adapt to vog?

Ten Things YOU Can Do to Lessen Adverse Health Effects of Vog First, it is important to note that individuals may have a wide range of sensitivity to vog. • • • Drink lots of fluids to loosen mucus and clear lungs. Hot tea may be especially good. (Caffeinated teas also contain theophyliine - a bronchial dilator, further, both of these materials also help the clearance of the lungs). Don't overexert yourself when vog levels are high. Even better, take it easy. If practical, avoid high vog areas during times of thick vog. Avoid exposure to other air pollutants on the job and at home. Consult your doctor, or if possible, a toxicologist or an industrial hygienist. Don't smoke, and avoid people smoking or burning trash, especially during vog episodes. When vog is strong, avoid contact with colds, flu, molds, mildew, pollen, and dust. (Some of the lung clearance and immune functions could be compromised by high vog. ) For very high vog, stay indoors, close the windows, and run an air purifier or air conditioner. Indoor plants (especially spider plants) may help clean the air. You also can try hanging up sheets that have been soaked In a mixture of one teaspoon of baking soda to one liter of water (which can help trap acid aerosols and gases. ) Keep any respiratory and heart medications you use handy. Consult your doctor. Respirators or wet handkerchiefs may help if vog levels are very high, but may hurt individuals with pre-existing respiratory or heart ailments, due to increased breathing resistance and, therefore, increased stress. Consult your doctor about your state of health, and consult an industrial hygienist about respirators. Get some baseline lung function tests (after breathing "clean" air one week or more), then get retested if/when breathing becomes more difficult during high vog episodes. Have your doctor keep records of both your lung function and approximate vog levels.

Levels of Vog http: //www. konaweb. com/vog/brochure. pdf

Environmental Issues in our Community • Bluffs- slope instability- Bliss Road • Flooding of area • Tornadoes • What do we do to deal with these issues?

Your Job: “Graffiti” about Vog • In your LAB GROUPS: • Create a poster as a group to show what you learned about vog, or about anything else we discussed. Show what you know! • Add pictures, words, symbols (chemical symbols? ), and sentences. Be creative! • Use crayons, markers, etc.

Reminders for Group Work: • Work together. Talk about your ideas together. • Respect each other’s ideas. • Everyone contributes something. • Stay focused! (I would like to see them done by the end of the hour)

Evaluation • Content (What did you learn? ) • Teamwork (Did you cooperate? ) • Creativity (Is it unique? ) • Time permitting, we will share with the class.