09-25-2008, 05:14 AM
I'm not an expert on this, but I play one on TV so allow me to talk through my lauhala hat. The vog is emitted from two main sources: Pu'u O'o and, more importantly, Halema'uma'u. Both are within the confines of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, to the West of Puna. Generally, the tradewinds blow these emissions and plumes away from Puna. These emissions are blown toward Kau (Pahala etc). They then wrap around Mauna Loa and blow up the Kona Coast.
The worst areas at present are Kau, where the problem is very serious and then the Captain Cook area, right on up to Kona. The vog is not as strong north of Kona because a wind blows over Kamuela and pushes it out to sea. The area around Hawi also has reduced vog, although they can get it, too. The Hamakua coast is relatively vog free as is Puna, oddly, under normal circumstances.
However, when the tradewinds die back, as they tend to do in Winter, the emissions head toward Puna and Hilo (my informal assessment is that they like Hilo better than Puna).
All that said, when the tradewinds are up, Puna has great air in my view. But this is very personal. I know people who are highly sensitive to vog. Their bodies can easily detect the traces that exist even when the trades are blowing. I appear to be less susceptible.
All of this could change at a moment's notice. The current trend is toward extreme vogginess in the patterns describe above. There are little links that show you SO2 readings, but the readings tend to reflect the patterns above. Lately, there have been several die-backs of the trades, making for worsened conditions in Puna. Pray for wind.
As for particular subdivisions, I have no idea, but my guess is that the closer to the coast your subdivision, the less overall vog you will experience...due to the winds. Kapoho usually has great air and sunshine, too.
The worst areas at present are Kau, where the problem is very serious and then the Captain Cook area, right on up to Kona. The vog is not as strong north of Kona because a wind blows over Kamuela and pushes it out to sea. The area around Hawi also has reduced vog, although they can get it, too. The Hamakua coast is relatively vog free as is Puna, oddly, under normal circumstances.
However, when the tradewinds die back, as they tend to do in Winter, the emissions head toward Puna and Hilo (my informal assessment is that they like Hilo better than Puna).
All that said, when the tradewinds are up, Puna has great air in my view. But this is very personal. I know people who are highly sensitive to vog. Their bodies can easily detect the traces that exist even when the trades are blowing. I appear to be less susceptible.
All of this could change at a moment's notice. The current trend is toward extreme vogginess in the patterns describe above. There are little links that show you SO2 readings, but the readings tend to reflect the patterns above. Lately, there have been several die-backs of the trades, making for worsened conditions in Puna. Pray for wind.
As for particular subdivisions, I have no idea, but my guess is that the closer to the coast your subdivision, the less overall vog you will experience...due to the winds. Kapoho usually has great air and sunshine, too.