Vulcanologist and Associate Professor of Geosciences Erik Klemetti KNOWS volcanos. So it's not surprising that his expertise is being tapped by news outlets across the nation as the country scrambles to understand the eruption of the Kilaeua volcano in Hawaii.

Klemetti, also the author of a popular blog, Eruptions, visited the area in 2013 and again just this spring with a geology field trip to the Aloha State. Klemetti and the young scientists stopped by the site, which at that time was much quieter.

Kilauea is a ¡°textbook¡± example of a shield volcano, which are known for low-grade slopes (versus the classic volcano shapes many 6th graders create in science projects) and non-explosive lava flows, which makes this possibly less dangerous to people because they have time to move away from the flows.

But that doesn't mean people aren't being affected. At the time of this report, almost 40 homes have been destroyed and the end is not yet in sight.

To learn more:

• Listen to NPR's On Point interview
• The Atlantic
• AP article
• KPBS