A recent study published by 28 Course 1 undergraduates investigates the atmospheric pollutant mix emitted by the active Hawaiian shield volcano Kilauea. In coordination with the 2012 and 2013 expeditions of TREX, the group of students and 11 CEE affiliates carried out real-time measurements of the key chemical components from Kilauea’s volcanic plume to reveal two fundamental features: a strong dependence of sulfur partitioning on meteorology and time of day, and highly acidic particles. “Given that millions of people live close to volcanoes globally, it is important to understand plume chemistry before we can characterize the impact that the emissions have on human health and the environment,” said Course 1 undergraduate participant in the 2013 trip Sidhant Pai ‘14. “The work done by TREX is an important step in that direction.” Read the MIT News Story.