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Schatz Announces Federal Funding To Improve Monitoring Of Kilauea

University of Hawai‘i to Receive NSF Grant of $86,462

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced the University of Hawai‘i will receive a $86,462 grant from the National Science Foundation to improve monitoring of Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes.

“Kilauea’s spectacular volcanic eruptions have attracted much attention over the last three decades. More than 5000 travelers visit Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park each day,” Senator Schatz said. “And because Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, eruptions also pose a real threat to life and property as experienced by hundreds of families on Hawai‘i Island who have lost their homes and been forced to start over. This grant will help better monitor Kilauea’s activity and increase public safety for residents and visitors.”

The National Science Foundation grant will support high-speed photography and high-resolution analysis of released volcanic gas so that researchers can better forecast the course of future eruptions.  Researchers will also study the Stromboli volcano in Italy and, if activity permits, the Etna volcano, also in Italy.  

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