Vog, a term derived from the words "volcanic" and "smog," refers to the hazy air pollution caused by volcanic emissions, primarily from the Kīlauea volcano in Hawaii
. It is a mixture of gases and aerosols, including sulfur dioxide (SO2), water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and sulfuric acid (SO3)
. Vog is formed when sulfur oxides emitted by a volcano react with sunlight, oxygen, and moisture, resulting in sulfuric acid and other sulfates
. The main components of vog are:
- Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) : Primarily emitted by volcanoes, it reacts with moisture and other gases to form aerosols
- Water Vapor (H2O) : A component of volcanic emissions that contributes to the formation of aerosols
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2) : Also a component of volcanic emissions, it contributes to the formation of aerosols
- Sulfuric Acid (SO3) : Formed when sulfur oxides react with moisture and other gases
Vog can negatively affect human health and agriculture, and acid rain can contaminate household water supplies by leaching metals from buildings and plumbing
. It is particularly risky for those who live nearest to the volcano, as the wind direction determines which part of Hawaii will be affected
. Vog differs from laze, which is created when lava enters the ocean and produces a different type of haze
