How can Volcanologists predict
eruptions?
What is a volcanologists job?
• A volcanologist is a Scientist
• It is known as volcanology
• They collect samples to see
how volcanoes work
• When they know how
volcanoes work they may be
able to save lives
What special equipment do
volcanologists use?
Seismic monitor
Tiltmeter
Protective suit
Volcanologists need the best
data collection devices and the
best analysis tools to analyse
the data collected.
Thermal imager
Thermocouple
What special equipment do
volcanologist use?
• Face masks to avoid breathing
toxic fumes
• Metal shield to protect from the
heat
• To measure the temperature of
lava flows, volcanologists use
special thermometers called
thermocouples that can
withstand more heat. Regular
thermometers would melt !
• Active volcanologists climb steep
mountains to place earthquake
measuring devices. Volcanologists
will crawl into seething craters to
collect rock and gas samples.
Volcano Adventure Milestones
1) First person to abseil into active crater at Yasur Volcano,
Vanuatu, while the volcano was erupting. Filmed for an
award winning Discovery Channel documentary.
2) John's expedition was the first to the summit of
Eyjafjallajokull volcano, Iceland during the 2010 eruption.
3) First scientist to climb to summit of Chaiten volcano in
Chile in 2008 after the worlds largest rhyolite eruption in
100 years. Made 2 visits to the volcano in 2008.
4) First scientist to reach the largest eruption in the world
in 2005 at Manam Volcano, Papua New Guinea.
5) Free-climbed 240m into the crater at Ambrym Volcano
to study the lava lakes.
6) First person to climb into active crater at Gaua Volcano,
Vanuatu.
7) One of the first people to climb to the summit of Ol
Doinyo Lengai volcano, Tanzania after the large eruptions
of 2007-2008.
8) In 2009 visited Central Island volcano in northern
Kenya, a rarely visited active volcano in the world's largest
desert lake.
9) In 2009, made rare visit to lava tubes of Suswa volcano,
Kenya.
10) In 1999 made the closest approach ever to Stombolian
eruptions inside the summit crater at Mt Etna volcano,
Italy.
These are only some of his milestones he has more!
John Seach
A leading expert in
volcanology
John is an Australian scientist
and volcano adventurer. Over
the last 22years he has travelled
the world and seen eruptions on
his visits to 200 volcanoes.
Qualifications:
Bachelor of Science, Chemistry
(Sydney University 1983)
Postgraduate Diploma in Nutrition and
Dietetics (Sydney University 1984)
Scuba Diving Instructor (PADI 1989current)
Where are the world’s most active
volcanoes?
Mount Nyiragongo –
Republic of Congo
Chaitén - Chile
Kīlauea - Hawaii
Mount St Helens –
Washington USA
Sakurajima – Osumi
Peninsula Japan
Mayon - Philippines
Popocatépetl Mexico
Whakaari / White Island – New Zealand
Mount Etna - Italy
Soufrière Hills –
Caribbean / Monsterrat
Which eruption has killed the most
people?
The volcano eruption in Tambora, Indonesia, in 1815, killed
around 92,000 people.
The eruption sent fiery ash into the stratosphere, which cooled
the world climate for more than a year.
How do volcanologists know a volcano
is going to erupt?
Knowing when a volcano is going to erupt is very difficult. To
predict eruptions volcanologists look for patterns, monitor
volcanoes and collect data after a volcano has erupted.
Volcanologists have learnt from information from Kilauea in
Hawaii and used what they knew during the 1980 eruptions on
Mt. St. Helens.
When have volcanologists predicted
an eruption and saved lives?
Volcanologists study active volcanoes to predict when they
will erupt. These professionals do actually save lives. In 1991,
for example, volcanologists accurately predicted the eruption of
Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines, enabling the safe evacuation
of tens of thousands of residents.
Why do volcanologists do such a
dangerous job?
Most volcanologists seem to really like being in the outdoors and
start off studying other things first before they work on
volcanoes. They think that volcanoes are amazing but they
don’t like that they hurt people. They do like that they can help
people. Volcanologists are definitely adventurous people!
The job of a volcanologist is an important one so that we can
understand volcanoes better. Then we can save more lives. The
sad thing is that about one volcanologist dies every year.
Bibliography
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www.news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/high/find_out/guides/tech/volcanoes/newsid_17
68000/1768629.stm
www.listphobia.com/2010/05/02/10-most-dangerous-active-volcanoes-in-theworld
http://news.stanford.edu/pr/00/aguvolcano110.html
www.volcanoworld.wordpress.com/2009/03/06/how-do-volcanologists-predictvolcanic-eruptions/
http://www.volcanolive.com/
www.plate-tectonics.org/volcanoes/volcanologist-at-work.html