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Posted: Saturday, March 15th, 2008 5:42 AM HST

Sulfur dioxide pouring from volcano in record amounts

By Associated Press

VOLCANO, Hawaii (AP) _ Scientists on the Big Island say they have recorded the highest emission rates of sulfur dioxide at the summit of Kilauea since measurements began in 1979. The U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says the volcano pumped out from 1,800 to 2,000 metric tons of the gas Thursday. A metric ton is 2,205 pounds. The scientist in charge at the observatory, Jim Kauahikaua, says that was up from 1,500 metric tons Wednesday and 600 to 1,000 metric tons in mid-February. He says sulfur dioxide from the volcano had typically been 150-200 metric tons per day before the emission rate began increasing in late December. The sulfur dioxide is pouring from a new gas vent formed on the lower east wall of Halemaumau Crater. (Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved)