Question: My husband and I have lived on Oahu for the past 12 years and it appears to me that for the past 12-18 months there is a "different" weather condition happening fairly regularly. It looks a bit like fog or haze, but not the vog we know as happens when Kona winds blow. This haze seems to hang on even when strong northeast trades are blowing. I spoke with an acupuncturist and naturopath recently and both said that an increasing number of clients are coming in with dry nagging coughs. Is anyone researching our air quality or tracking particulates in the air?
Answer: There has been no change in air quality, according to the state Department of Health, nor any "different" weather conditions detected by the National Weather Service.
"It’s important for people to realize that there are many reasons haze can occur in the atmosphere, and even in Hawaii, this does not appear to be limited to vog," said Robert Ballard, science and operations officer with the National Weather Service in Honolulu.
But first, monitoring data has not shown any change in air quality, said Lisa Young of the Health Department’s Clean Air Branch.
You can get daily reports on vog conditions as well as other information on the governor’s website, 1.usa.gov/1qmqKJL, or by calling toll free 866-767-5044.
Recent and current data on sulfur dioxide levels stemming from Kilauea Volcano on Hawaii island have all been "good."
As of last week, Oahu had 34 days when the haze was due to vog occurring during Kona or southerly wind conditions, Young said.
But she also noted that when strong tradewinds are blowing and when surf conditions are high, she has "noticed some haze due to sea salt spray. High humidity may also contribute" to the haze, she said.
Ballard agreed that sea spray may be the reason for hazelike conditions: "Sometimes this gets misinterpreted as vog."
On windy days when trades may be gusting over 30 knots, for example, "it is not uncommon to see reduced visibility from increased sea spray," he said.
"When the air is very moist … particles which are already in the air begin to attract an increasing amount of water vapor," Ballard explained. This makes those particles much larger than they would be without water, and so they will reduce visibility more than if the air is dry. Again, this reduced visibility can occur even without vog in the air or an increased amount of particulates.
It is "highly unlikely" that there would be vog in the air when there are strong tradewinds, he said.
Other "theories" regarding why air quality in the islands may be reduced at times include smoke from California forest fires or dust/smoke from Asia.
"While these appear to be plausible, we can’t confirm them yet," Ballard said.
Ongoing Research
While the National Weather Service is not directly involved with measuring or forecasting air quality, Ballard said it is working with University of Hawaii professors Steven Businger and John Porter to improve vog detection and forecasting in the islands.
He pointed to the scheduled 2016 launch of new earth-observing systems, the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites R-Series.
"We are also hoping that the aerosol detection abilities on (those satellites), as well as on other satellites, will help shed new light on the origins of particulates affecting the islands," Ballard said.
Mahalo
To two kind individuals. I was driving on the H-1 freeway when my car suddenly needed coolant. I pulled over, panic-strickened. A nice gentleman whose name began with "D" came to my aid. He added coolant to my car, then stayed until I was safely on my way. Lee Ann, who works at the Ala Moana satellite city hall, cautioned me to be careful because of my handicap license plates. We very elderly citizens are easy targets. May they both have many blessings in their lives. — Very Grateful Senior Citizen
———
Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
