.jpg) |
| Hot Shot vehicles will help the County of Hawai‘i deliver hot and cold food to the elderly around the island, says Mayor Mitch Roth. Photo from County of Hawai‘i |
Hawaiʻi County Nutrition Program will use them to serve the needs of Hawaiʻi Island's elderly population, with its approximately 430 home-delivered participants and an additional 620 congregate meal site participants across Hawaiʻi County.
Heated and refrigerated sections of the vehicles are specially designed to maintain the required safety temperatures for food items during transportation. Hot meals will be kept at no less than 140 degrees Fahrenheit, while cold foods will be maintained at no higher than 45 degrees Fahrenheit at the point of delivery. Frozen meals will remain frozen (0 degrees Fahrenheit or below) from packing to the meal site or participant's home.
Mayor Mitch Roth expressed his enthusiasm for these vehicles' positive impact on the community. He stated, "The acquisition of these specialized vehicles represents a significant investment in the well-being of our elderly residents. The ability to safely transport and deliver hot and cold meals is crucial to the success of the Hawaiʻi County Nutrition Program. As we navigate the unique challenges of our rural landscape, these vehicles will ensure that our seniors receive the nutritious meals they depend on."
Hawaiʻi County, encompassing approximately two-thirds rural areas, has often faced logistical challenges in reaching all participants of the Nutrition Program. These new vehicles will address these challenges head-on, allowing the program to expand its reach, said a statement from the county, said the county statement. "The Hawaiʻi County Office of Aging remains committed to improving the quality of life for our elderly population and expresses sincere gratitude to the Federal and State agencies whose funding made this acquisition possible."
Hawaiʻi County, encompassing approximately two-thirds rural areas, has often faced logistical challenges in reaching all participants of the Nutrition Program. These new vehicles will address these challenges head-on, allowing the program to expand its reach, said a statement from the county, said the county statement. "The Hawaiʻi County Office of Aging remains committed to improving the quality of life for our elderly population and expresses sincere gratitude to the Federal and State agencies whose funding made this acquisition possible."
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.
In 2023, there were 954 DUI arrests compared with 979 during the same period in 2022. This is a decrease of 2.6 percent.
Hawai‘i Police Department’s Traffic Services Section reviewed all updated crashes and found 843 major collisions so far this year compared with 846 during the same period last year, a decrease of 0.35 percent.
In 2023, there were 14 fatal crashes, resulting in 15 fatalities, (one with multiple deaths, and one reclassified to a medical condition; compared with 30 fatal crashes, resulting in 33 fatalities (one with multiple deaths, and one reclassified to a medical condition for the same time last year. This represents a decrease of 54.8 percent for fatal crashes and 54.5 percent for fatalities.
There was one non-traffic fatality compared to 0 non-traffic fatalities (not on a public roadway) for the same time last year. HPD promises that DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island-wide.
JANUARY'S VOLCANO AWARENESS MONTH ACTIVITIES feature a guided hike at the Kahuku Unit of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 7, an After Dark in the Park Program on Kīlauea's recent summit eruptions in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park at 7 p.m. on Jan. 9 and a "talk story" at Nāʻālehu Public Library from 1-4 p.m. on Jan. 10. The full schedule of programs offered on the Island of Hawai‘i as part of Volcano Awareness Month is available here.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.
SEPARATING SIGNALS. WHAT MATTERS TO SEISMOLOGISTS? That is the topic of this week's Volcano Watch written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. This article was written by Research Corporation of the University of Hawai‘i seismic analyst Maddie Hawk.
 |
| A crew member from UH Advanced Seismology Department Photo from UH |
Being able to distinguish between random signals and volcanically induced seismic activity allows USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory seismologists to keep a closer eye on what matters, the volcanoes.
Seismic signals can be divided into two categories: natural Earth processes and anthropogenic, or human-caused, signals. The more stations that a signal reaches, the more likely it is that the signal originated due to underground Earth processes. For example, a strong enough earthquake will reach many, if not all seismic stations on the island. Conversely, if only a few stations close to each other record a signal, it is likely that the source is anthropogenic or not volcanically related (for example, a quarry blast or a rockfall).
There are several common anthropogenic signals that HVO seismologists see daily. One of the most frequent and easiest to identify is helicopters. Sound waves from a flying helicopter are strong enough to affect seismometers on the ground. Although they might be hard to identify on a seismogram—which shows ground motion recorded over time by a seismometer as wiggly lines—helicopters are easily revealed in a spectrogram—which shows the frequency spectrum recorded by a seismometer over time.
Other anthropogenic signals, like foot and vehicle traffic, can appear noisy and undiscernible, but they are still very different from volcanic seismicity. Within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, signals like these usually occur in high-traffic areas near seismometers but disappear at night.
The top half of the seismogram shown here (6:00 p.m.–6:00 a.m. HST) is much quieter than the bottom half (6:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. HST). This diurnal cultural noise, defined as noise from human activity repeated on a daily basis, can mostly be ignored. When analysts at HVO see a signal they don't recognize, it is helpful to note whether the signal occurred during daylight hours and how many stations "saw" the signal.
The ability to identify and ignore anthropogenic noise allows seismic analysts to pay more attention to the signals coming from volcanoes. VT, or volcano-tectonic earthquakes, usually occur due to a slip on a fault in a volcano; the locations of these earthquakes can give us clues about changing stresses due to magma movement within a volcano.
The ability to identify and ignore anthropogenic noise allows seismic analysts to pay more attention to the signals coming from volcanoes. VT, or volcano-tectonic earthquakes, usually occur due to a slip on a fault in a volcano; the locations of these earthquakes can give us clues about changing stresses due to magma movement within a volcano.
 |
| The Volcanic Tectonic, VT earthquakes shown here record a sharp sudden arrival and tapering off, compared to anthropogenic seismicity, such as noise from helicopters and land traffic. |
A typical local VT earthquake is easy to identify in a seismogram, with its sharp, sudden arrival and a tail that tapers off. A higher magnitude earthquake will appear deeper red on a spectrogram, while lower magnitude earthquakes range from green to yellow. Besides an earthquake's tell-tale shape, seismic stations across the island will record the same event if it is large enough. For example, a magnitude-3.5 earthquake originating below Kīlauea will show up a few moments later and slightly weaker at Mauna Loa seismic stations.
Much like how scientists used to locate earthquakes using seismic wave travel times, HVO has an automated system that calculates the location and magnitude of each earthquake using information from as many stations as possible. However, there are sometimes errors associated with the automated system so HVO's seismic analysts check all events larger than around magnitude-2.
Seismologists also cannot rely on the automated system to catch every signal. Magma and other fluids move around within the underground volcanic system, resulting in a sort of quiet gurgling very different from VT noise. Volcanically induced LP (long period) events are lower frequency, last much longer, and are less common than VT events. Though these signals are important to monitor, the movement of magma is not always an indication of an imminent eruption. When VT and LP events occur together, say below the summit of Kīlauea, seismologists at HVO might raise awareness of the potential for an eruption.
Volcano Activity Updates
Kīlauea is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is ADVISORY.
Unrest in Kīlauea's summit region continues to wax and wane with fluctuating input of magma to the area. An earthquake swarm on December 29-30 south of the caldera was accompanied by inflation shown on the Sand Hill tiltmeter—located southwest of the caldera—indicating a likely intrusive event in the area. The Uēkahuna tiltmeter—located northwest of the caldera—shows little net tilt over the past week. Unrest may continue to fluctuate and eruptive activity could occur in the near future with little or no warning. The most recent sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rate for the summit—approximately 80 tonnes per day—was measured on December 28.
Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL. Webcams show no signs of activity on Mauna Loa. Summit seismicity has remained at low levels over the past month. Ground deformation indicates continuing slow inflation as magma replenishes the reservoir system following the 2022 eruption. SO2 emission rates are at background levels.
Five earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M3.1 earthquake 14 km (8 mi) S of Volcano at 6 km (4 mi) depth on Jan. 3 at 8:12 p.m. HST, a M2.9 earthquake 6 km (3 mi) SSW of Volcano at 1 km (0 mi) depth on Dec. 30 at 10:54 p.m. HST, a M2.4 earthquake 8 km (4 mi) SSW of Honoka'a at 13 km (8 mi) depth on Dec. 30 at 9:47 p.m. HST, a M2.4 earthquake 7 km (4 mi) WSW of Waimea at 6 km (4 mi) depth on Dec. 29 at 11:34 a.m. HST, and a M4.4 earthquake 7 km (4 mi) SE of Pāhala at 12 km (7 mi) depth on Dec. 28 at 3:16 p.m. HST.
Much like how scientists used to locate earthquakes using seismic wave travel times, HVO has an automated system that calculates the location and magnitude of each earthquake using information from as many stations as possible. However, there are sometimes errors associated with the automated system so HVO's seismic analysts check all events larger than around magnitude-2.
Seismologists also cannot rely on the automated system to catch every signal. Magma and other fluids move around within the underground volcanic system, resulting in a sort of quiet gurgling very different from VT noise. Volcanically induced LP (long period) events are lower frequency, last much longer, and are less common than VT events. Though these signals are important to monitor, the movement of magma is not always an indication of an imminent eruption. When VT and LP events occur together, say below the summit of Kīlauea, seismologists at HVO might raise awareness of the potential for an eruption.
Volcano Activity Updates
Kīlauea is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is ADVISORY.
Unrest in Kīlauea's summit region continues to wax and wane with fluctuating input of magma to the area. An earthquake swarm on December 29-30 south of the caldera was accompanied by inflation shown on the Sand Hill tiltmeter—located southwest of the caldera—indicating a likely intrusive event in the area. The Uēkahuna tiltmeter—located northwest of the caldera—shows little net tilt over the past week. Unrest may continue to fluctuate and eruptive activity could occur in the near future with little or no warning. The most recent sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rate for the summit—approximately 80 tonnes per day—was measured on December 28.
Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL. Webcams show no signs of activity on Mauna Loa. Summit seismicity has remained at low levels over the past month. Ground deformation indicates continuing slow inflation as magma replenishes the reservoir system following the 2022 eruption. SO2 emission rates are at background levels.
Five earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M3.1 earthquake 14 km (8 mi) S of Volcano at 6 km (4 mi) depth on Jan. 3 at 8:12 p.m. HST, a M2.9 earthquake 6 km (3 mi) SSW of Volcano at 1 km (0 mi) depth on Dec. 30 at 10:54 p.m. HST, a M2.4 earthquake 8 km (4 mi) SSW of Honoka'a at 13 km (8 mi) depth on Dec. 30 at 9:47 p.m. HST, a M2.4 earthquake 7 km (4 mi) WSW of Waimea at 6 km (4 mi) depth on Dec. 29 at 11:34 a.m. HST, and a M4.4 earthquake 7 km (4 mi) SE of Pāhala at 12 km (7 mi) depth on Dec. 28 at 3:16 p.m. HST.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands
.png)
