What is like living near a volcano?

1
What is like living near a volcano?

• What is it like most of the time?
• What happens when it erupts?

2
Why do people live near volcanoes?

• At first it may seem odd that people would want
  to live close to a volcano or any tectonic
  activity.
• After all, volcanoes have a nasty habit of
  exploding, discharging liquid rock, ash,
  poisonous gasses, red hot clouds of embers, and
  generally doing things that kill people.
• Yet, throughout history, people have deliberately
  chosen to risk all those hazards and live near
  them, even on the slopes of active volcanoes that
  have erupted within living memory.

3

• They chose to live close to volcanoes because
  they felt that the advantages outweighed the
  disadvantages.
• Most volcanoes are perfectly safe for long
  periods in between eruptions, and those that do
  erupt more frequently are usually thought of, by
  the people who live there, as being predictable.
• Today, about 500 million people live on or close
  to volcanoes.
• We even have major cities close to active
  volcanoes. Popocatapetl is a volcanic mountain
  less than 50 miles from Mexico City in Mexico.
• In short, the main things that attract people to
  live near active volcanoes are minerals,
  geothermal energy, fertile soils and tourism.
• Lets look at each one...

4
Minerals

• Magna rising from deep inside
  the earth contains a range
  of
  minerals.
• As the rock cools, minerals are
  precipitated out and, due to
  
  processes like the movement of superheated water
  and gasses through the rock, different minerals
  are precipitated at different locations.
• This means that minerals such as tin, silver,
  gold, copper and even diamonds can be found in
  volcanic rocks.
• Most of the metallic minerals mined around the
  world, particularly copper, gold, silver, lead
  and zinc are associated with rocks found deep
  below extinct volcanoes.
• Hot gasses escaping through vents of active
  volcanoes also bring minerals to the surface,
  notably sulphur, which collects around the vents
  as it condenses and solidifies.
• Locals collect the sulphur and sell it.

5
Geothermal Energy

• Geothermal energy means heat energy from the
  earth.
• It's unusual to use the heat directly, by
  building your house on top of a steam vent for
  example, because it's unpredictable, dangerous
  and messy.
• The heat from underground steam is used to drive
  turbines and produce electricity, or to heat
  water supplies that are then used to provide
  household heating and hot water.
• Where steam doesn't naturally occur it is
  possible to drill several deep holes into very
  hot rocks, pump cool water down one hole and
  extract steam from another hole close by.

6
Geothermal Energy

• Countries such as Iceland make extensive use of
  geothermal power, with approximately two thirds
  of Iceland's electricity coming from steam
  powered turbines.
• New Zealand and to a lesser extent, Japan, also
  make effective use of geothermal energy.
• Iceland has over 200 volcanoes and 800 hot springs

• 26 of Icelands electricity comes from
  Geothermal Power.
• Reykjavik is said to be the most unpolluted
  capital in Europe.
• Its true - the city is absolutely pristine. The
  air is crystal clear.
• The geothermal electricity generation has a lot
  to do with this.

7
Other uses of Geothermal power in Iceland

• It is also used for recreational purposes
• Blaa Lonio - The Blue Lagoon. In the middle of
  this huge lava field sits this pool of seawater
  naturally heated by the geothermal activity below
  the surface

8

• Southeast of Reykjavik,
  the town of Hveragerdi
  serves as a
  geothermal
  farming centre for the
  capital.
• Puffs of steam coming
  out of the ground all
  
  over the place.
• There were greenhouses everywhere, often
  surrounded by steaming cracks in the ground.
• The extreme climate of Iceland is actually able
  to produce much in the way of tropical fruits and
  vegetables with the help of geothermal steam.

9
Fertile Soils

• Volcanic rocks are rich in minerals, but when the
  rocks are fresh the minerals are not available to
  plants.
• The rocks need thousands of years to become
  weathered and broken down before they form rich
  soils.
• When they do become soils though, they form some
  of the richest ones on the planet.
• The Naples area, which includes Mount Vesuvius,
  has such rich soils thanks to two large eruptions
  35,000 and 12000 years ago. Both eruptions
  produced very thick deposits of ash and broken
  rocks which have weathered to rich soils.
• Today, the area is intensively cultivated and
  produces grapes, vegetables, orange and lemon
  trees, herbs, flowers and has become a major
  tomato growing region

10
Tourism

• Volcanoes attract millions of visitors every
  year, for different reasons.
• As an example of the wilder side of nature, there
  are few things that can beat seeing an erupting
  volcano blowing red hot ash and rock thousands of
  feet into the air.
• Even the less active ones that are just puffing
  out steam and smoke are impressive sights and
  attract tourists from around the world.
• Around the volcano may be warm bathing lakes, hot
  springs, bubbling mud pools and steam vents.
• Geysers are always popular tourist attractions,
  such as Old Faithful in the Yellowstone National
  Park, USA. Old Faithful is such a popular tourist
  feature that it even has its own 24 hour Old
  Faithful webcam.

This one is in New Zealand
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Tourism

• Iceland markets itself as a land of fire and ice,
  attracting tourists with a mix of volcanoes and
  glaciers, often both in the same place.
• The wild, raw and barren volcanic landscapes also
  attract tourists who want to see what the early
  planet may have looked like.
• Tourism creates jobs in shops, restaurants,
  hotels and tourist centres / national parks.
• Locals economies can profit from volcanism
  throughout the year, whereas skiing, for example,
  has only a limited winter season.
• In Uganda, a country trying hard to increase its
  tourist industry, the volcanic region around Mt
  Elgon is being heavily promoted for it's
  landscape, huge waterfalls, wildlife, climbing
  and hiking and its remote 'get away from it all'
  location.

12
Building Materials

• Blocks of lava are used for building materials
• Granite is a volcanic rock
• Ash is used in cement to build with.

13
They stay there because there is nowhere else to
go it is home

• Land is cheap in volcanic and earthquake zones.
  Some people are too poor to leave their home
  (especially in LEDCs) also poor education does
  not explain why they should move further away
• Even when people can afford to leave the area
  they may be too attached to their homes to leave.
  Their families have been there for generations.
• And there are so many people living in these
  dangerous areas, that it would difficult if not
  impossible to re-house them, especially as many
  areas that provide food for so many other people.

14
So living near a volcano can have its advantages,
but how do you cope with the danger?

• Scientists can often find clues about past
  eruptions by studying the deposits left behind.
  Areas affected by lava flows etc can be mapped,
  making disaster planning more effective.
• In addition to this type of long-range
  forecasting, scientists are becoming more and
  more skilled at spotting the warning signs of an
  eruption.

15
Warning Signs

• Before an eruption, magma moves into the area
  beneath the volcano and collects in a magma
  chamber, or reservoir.
• As it comes closer to the surface, the magma
  releases gases.
• These events can offer valuable clues about the
  likelihood of an eruption.
• For example, the movement of magma produces small
  earthquakes and vibrations
• Magma gathering in a chamber causes slight
  swelling of the volcano's slopes.
• Gases released near the volcano can be measured
  for changes in quantity and makeup.

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Monitoring Methods

• A number of tools can be used to record these
  warning signs.
• Seismographs can detect small earthquakes,
• while tiltmeters and geodimeters can measure the
  subtle swelling of a volcano.
• Spectrometers can measure amounts of sulfur
  dioxide
• a telltale gas that is released in increasing
  quantities before an eruption.
• Using these and other tools, it's possible to
  closely monitor activity at an awakening volcano.
  
• Volcanologists are becoming very skilled at
  predicting the likelihood of an eruption.

17
But .

• . it's very difficult to pinpoint exactly when
  an eruption will happen.
• Often, moving magma doesn't result in an eruption
  at all, but instead cools below the surface.
• Monitoring potential eruptions is expensive.
• With many volcanoes erupting only every few
  hundred or thousand years, it's not possible to
  monitor every site.
• Volcanic eruptions don't occur without warning,
  however. If we set up monitoring devices, we
  should not be caught off guard by disastrous
  eruptions.

18
So you are living in a volcanic zone?

• What can you do to stay safe?

19
Your plan should include 4 parts

• What do I need to know and have ready in case an
  eruption should happen?
• What will I do if an eruption is predicted?
• What will I do during an eruption?
• What will I do after an eruption?

20
OK you live in a volcanic area

• What do you need to know and have ready in case
  an eruption should happen?

21
Suggestions include

• Learn about your community warning systems.
• Be prepared for these disasters that can be
  spawned by volcanoes.
• Earthquakes, Flash floods, Landslides and
  mudflows, Thunderstorms, Tsunamis
• Make evacuation plans. You want to get to high
  ground away from the eruption. Plan a route out
  and have a backup route in mind.
• Develop an emergency communication plan.
• In case family members are separated from one
  another during a volcanic eruption, have a plan
  for getting back together. Ask an out-of-state
  relative or friend to serve as the "family
  contact." Make sure everyone knows the name,
  address, and phone number of the contact person.
• Have disaster supplies on hand.
• Flashlight and extra batteries, Portable,
  battery-operated radio and extra batteries, First
  aid kit and manual, Emergency food and water,
  Non-electric can opener, Essential medicine, Cash
  and credit cards, Sturdy shoes, A pair of goggles
  and a throw-away breathing mask for each member
  of the household.

22
The volcano alert has been madeTV and Radio are
telling people to evacuate URGENTLY

• The eruption could be any time soon!
• You have a plan but what could go wrong with
  it?

23
Some ideas

• Although it may seem safe to stay at home and
  wait out an eruption, doing so could be very
  dangerous. The rock debris from a volcano can
  break windows and set buildings on fire. Stay
  safe. Follow authorities' instructions and leave
  the area before the disaster begins.
• Follow the evacuation order issued by
  authorities. - Avoid areas downwind of the
  volcano.
• Mudflows or Lahars are powerful "rivers" of mud
  that can move faster than people can walk or run
  and occur when rain falls through ash-carrying
  clouds or when rivers are dammed during an
  eruption.
• When you approach a bridge, first look upstream.
  If a mudflow is approaching or moving beneath the
  bridge, do not cross the bridge. The power of the
  mudflow can destroy a bridge very quickly.

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If eruption happens before you get away

• If caught indoors
• Close all windows, doors, and dampers.
• Put all machinery inside a garage or barn.
• Bring animals and livestock into closed shelters.
• If trapped outdoors
• Seek shelter indoors.
• If caught in a rock fall, roll into a ball to
  protect head.
• Avoid low-lying area where poisonous gases can
  collect and flash floods can be most dangerous.
• If caught near a stream, beware of mudflows.
• Protect yourself
• Wear long sleeved shirts and pants.
• Use goggles to protect eyes.
• Use a dust-mask or hold a damp cloth over face to
  help breathing.
• Keep car or truck engines off.

25
Afterwards

• Listen to a battery-powered radio or television
  for the latest emergency information.
• Stay away from volcanic ash fall.
• When outside
• Cover your mouth and nose. A number of victims of
  the Mount St. Helens volcano died from inhaling
  ash.
• Wear goggles to protect your eyes.
• Keep skin covered to avoid irritation or burns.
• If you have a respiratory ailment, avoid contact
  with any amount of ash. Stay indoors until local
  health officials advise it is safe to go outside.
  
• Avoid driving in heavy ash fall. Driving will
  stir up more ash that can clog engines and stall
  vehicles.
• Clear roofs of ash fall. Ash fall is very heavy
  and can cause buildings to collapse.

26
Homework

• Imagine you are an advertising executive and you
  want to attract people to visit or live on your
  volcano (you might like to use your volcano from
  last week?)
• In a 3-slide PowerPoint
• Explain
• why it is really the one place they would like to
  come to
• how they will protected by monitoring
• how they can prepare to survive any disaster
• Keep it brief and punchy this is an advert
  remember
• Dont let the font size go below size 24