If an eruption were to occur, a number of life-changing things would happen. Lava flow would burn everything in its path. Ash falls will cause suffocation; killing many. Along with the death of a good amount of people, the ash would block the sun causing us to experience massive climate changes, but not just for us; The whole world would experience it as well. Science is showing that the potential for an eruption of some of the earth’s biggest and deadliest volcanoes is very real and imminent.
Each year, around 60 major volcanoes erupt globally. How hazardous each eruption is depends on a variety of physical and human factors. This essay will analyse how physical volcanic properties interact with human variables to make certain volcanoes more hazardous than others. This will be identified through the numerous recorded eruptions from different countries at different stages of development. Since the degree of impact an earthquake has is measure on both the Richter and the Mercalli scale, it must be reasonable to assume that the power of an eruption is representative to the degree of how potentially hazardous the event may be.
A hazard is a situation that poses a level of threat to life, health, property or environment. The level of hazard posed by different volcanoes can very greatly, from a weak eruption with minimal impact that causes little damage, to a violent and life threatening explosion. Most of the sixty-plus volcanoes that erupt each year are low risk, however a combination of factors can cause a volcano to be a serious hazard. The factors causing these variations will be explained in this essay. The first factor that must be considered is the viscosity of the magma.
There are three main stages to consider when managing a volcano: before the eruption, during its critical period and evacuation. By planning and being prepared it is possible to reduce the impact volcanic eruptions have on the lives of humans. However, it is very difficult to manage the impacts of volcanic eruptions directly because of the sheer force and unpredictability of volcanoes. Therefore, it is only to a small extent that preparedness and planning can mitigate the effects of volcanic hazards. Preparedness and planning is vital to aid the mitigation of volcanic hazards before an eruption.
The nature of an event is initially determined by how the cause was stimulated. Volcanic eruptions occur in many different forms determined by the plate margin they are on. The eruptions on Montserrat 1995 show a strong example of the nature of a volcano at a destructive plate margin. The Soufriere Hills volcano had lay dormant for a long period of time. When the eruption did occur it was seen as explosive as it produced large volumes of acidic lava, ash, pyroclastic flows and steam.
Gases dissolved in magma provide the motive force of volcanic eruptions, sulphurous volcanic gas and visible steam are usually the first things noticed on an active volcano as well as others that escape unseen for example through hot fumaroles, active vents, and porous ground surfaces. The limitations of taking these samples are remote location of these sites, intense and often hazardous fumes, frequent bad weather, and the potential for sudden eruptions can make regular sampling sometimes impossible and dangerous. Measuring gases remotely is possible but requires ideal weather and the availability of suitable aircraft or a network of roads around a
To what extent can preparedness and planning mitigate the effects of volcanic hazards? (40 marks) Volcanic activity happens across the surface of the globe and naturally hazards occur too. A hazard is a situation that poses a level of threat to life, health, property, or environment. It is easy to locate volcanoes, but it is very difficult to predict exactly when activity will take place, particularly a major eruption, this makes it difficult to prepare or plan for one. There is a very big difference that helps prepare for a volcanic hazard and that is whether you are in a MEDC or a LEDC.
HCS/320 Communication and Crisis Paper By: Theresa Kamara Professor Tracey Collins A crisis is an unexpected situation that cannot be prepare for. It can negatively affect or poses harm to a person, town, country or community. Unexpected situations can cause panic paving the way for the worst outcome. Natural disaster and man-made disaster two forms of crisis. A natural disaster is an event that occurs due to the environmental factors of the earth.
In which ways does volcanic activity vary in relation to the type of plate margin along which it occurs? (10 Marks) Volcanic activity can occur at constructive or destructive plate margins, but it can also occur at hotspots in which no plate margin is involved. At destructive margins two plates which are moving together can be either both oceanic plates or one continental and the other oceanic. In the case of one continental plate and one oceanic plate, volcanic eruptions are very violent and emit andesitic or rhyolitic lava. These types of lava are very viscous due to its high silica content.
Additionally, the uranium used in nuclear reactors undergoes an enrichment process to prepare it, but additional enrichment can generate weapons grade uranium. According to the The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, the enrichment process is openly shared between nations. In addition to those risks, as nuclear technologies become more widespread the risks of accidental contamination of people and the environment