St. Ed's scientists head to Hawaii to study volcano's toxic gas

Hawaii's Kilauea volcano started intensely erupting in May. Evacuations are in place and hundreds of homes have been destroyed, but not everyone is fleeing the site. A team of St. Edward's University scientists are headed to the big island this weekend to conduct research about 'vog' -- or, volcanic smog.

Assistant professor of physics Paul Walter is one of two St. Edwards University researchers headed to Kilauea on Sunday. They'll be working downwind from the volcanic activity.

Natural sciences dean Gary Morris explains that St. Ed's has an instrument uniquely capable of delivering information that NASA wants. The instrument measures Sulphur dioxide -- a toxic gas emitted from coal burning power plants and volcanic activity.

"The Sulphur dioxide when it gets in your nasal passages and your throat will irritate you. If the concentrations are high enough it can lead to death," Morris says.

The researchers will launch their instrument attached to a balloon into the volcanic plume.

"This little antenna on the bottom radios our data back to the surface so we get our data in real time," Morris explains. NASA can then compare their own satellite data with what St. Ed's researchers are reporting.

"It's a way of really checking and seeing that the satellite data is correct," Walter says.

Too much SO2 in the atmosphere can be destructive for plants and even your lungs. It's one of the measurements St. Ed's continues to study in their tropospheric ozone pollution project. Even though the instruments are being launched in Hawaii this weekend, you might find some from past launches on the outskirts of Austin. If you do, return it the university for a $50 reward.