Transcript Volcano Preparedness & Safety

Volcano Preparedness & Safety
Helpful tips about what to do in
the event of a volcanic eruption.
www.ussartf.org/volcanoes.htm
Dr. Greg Valentine
Office: 421 Hochstetter Hall,
University at Buffalo, NY
Email: [email protected]
Title: Professor, Department of
Geology; Director, Center for
GeoHazards Studies
Degree: Ph.D., Geological Sciences,
University of California Santa
Barbara, 1988
Specialty: Volcanic risk, basaltic
volcanic fields, pyroclastic deposits,
volcano fluid dynamics, volcaniclastic
and surface processes.
Advice from Dr. Greg Valentine
• What are some of the major things we wouldn’t know about
the interior of the earth if volcanic eruptions had never
occurred?
“We probably would not know the
composition of the Earth's interior, or the
relationships between the solid earth and
the hydrosphere and atmosphere.
Actually, we wouldn't be here, so we
wouldn't know anything!”
Volcanoes in the United States
There are 168 volcanoes in the United States as of today. Those that have shown
activity in the last ten years are considered Active, and there are 40 active volcanoes
in the U.S. Out of those 40, eighteen are considered “Very Dangerous”.
http://www.emergencysurvivalgear.net/2010/06/volcanoes-in-the-united-states
Advice from Dr. Greg Valentine
•
How far in advance, and how accurately, can a volcanic eruption be predicted
and the public notified to evacuate? What if you were unable to evacuate the
area?
“How far in advance - This really depends on the volcano,
how well it is monitored, and how well it is understood (well
monitored does not necessarily mean well understood!).
Some volcanoes such as Vesuvius, might show signs of
potential eruption many weeks prior to an eruption.
However, even with several weeks it would be difficult to
evacuate the hundreds of thousands of people that live
around it. Some volcanoes, such as one that might form in
the city of Auckland (New Zealand) or in Mexico City, might
give little warning, and only days or less prior to eruption these are monogenetic volcanoes so the hazard would be
from a new volcano.
If we are unable to evacuate an area we would hope to be able
to provide some instructions to people that would improve
their chances of survival if an eruption (explosive) affected
them.”
What to Expect before a Volcano
Things to Keep in Mind:
• Before a volcano erupts there will be a series of small
earthquakes, due to the pressure of the magma building
underneath, and as the magma draws closer to the surface the
volcano will release gases.
• Before the lava exits the Volcano a spew of Ash will first
erupt, if you see this following the small earthquakes it’s a
good indication that lava is soon to follow and you should
evacuate immediately.
How to: Prepare for a
Volcano before it Erupts
• Find out if your community has a
Warning System and know the signs
• Store Emergency Food and Water
• Formulate an Evacuation plan for your family
(High Ground away from Eruption-Flood Danger)
• Keep Plastic Wrap to cover computers and other appliances.
• Because of Severe Ash, it’s recommended you keep 3 extra air
filters for your vehicles and 3 for your cooling/heating system
along with masks to cover your faces so you don’t breathe in fumes.
Advice from Dr. Greg Valentine
• How are decisions made about the evacuation area? Are the
decisions made strictly by volcanologists, or are there other officials
involved?
 “Volcanologists do NOT make decisions about
evacuation areas. Volcanologists provide scientific
advice, but a decision to evacuate (or how many people
or how large an area to evacuate) involves much more
than volcano science. It also includes deciding what is
an acceptable risk, what the costs of evacuation are and
weighing them against the benefits (for example, an
evacuation might be enforced, but the eruption ends up
not happening). These are policy decisions and can
only be made by decision makers that have government
authority. To the extent possible, volcanologists try to
separate themselves from evacuation decisions and
stick to providing the scientific information that the
decision makers need to do their job.”
Before
• The further from the volcano you are, the more time you
have to respond and the fewer dangers exist.
• Dangers include earthquake damage, flying rocks,
heat blast, lava, floods, and mudslides.
• Rocks can be thrown 20 miles from a volcanic
eruption but the ash can travel hundreds of miles.
What to do during an Eruption
According to this chart a super volcano would be
100X what Mount St. Helens when it erupted. That
might give us atleast a foundation to form the
scale, since no eruption has been documented yet.
• Do not attempt to take unnecessary items with you
• Leave immediately
• Do not take the unnecessary risk and leave
What to Expect during an Eruption
• Pyroclastic Flow: a mixture of gas and pyroclastic debris
that is so dense that it hugs the ground, applied with gravity and
these dense clouds will flow down or around the volcano into
anything waiting below. These flows can reach extreme speeds of up
to 450 mph and temperatures of 1,800 degrees F.
http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hazards/pyroclasticflow/index.php
How to: Cope after an Eruption
• Have an out-of-town family member or friend lined up to call to let
them know everyone is alright.
• After-effects cannot be prevented, no matter how much volcanic
awareness knowledge one might possess.
• The most effective method to prevent ash-induced damage to
machinery is to shut down, close off or seal equipment until ash is
removed from the immediate environment, but this may not be
practical in all cases, especially for critical facilities.
• Realize that some flows can be as hot as 1,500°F and move at speeds
of 100 to 150 miles per hour.
• Immediately remove ash from roofs in a timely manner to prevent
risk of your roof caving.
Advice from Dr. Greg Valentine
•
If there was an intermediate to felsic eruption with a VEI of 6-8, how
long would the ash stay in the atmosphere? What short term and/or
long term geohazards effects can be expected?
“I don't know the exact numbers (you might check the
Encyclopedia of Volcanoes to get more information on this), but
the residence time of ash in the atmosphere is probably on the
order of a few to several weeks. Ash actually settles or gets
caught up in rain, so it doesn't linger in the atmosphere all that
long. However, aerosols can linger in the atmosphere - if the
volcano plume gets to the stratosphere (as would the sort of
eruption you're asking about) - much longer, a few years
typically. It is aerosols in the stratosphere that have caused
climate effects for the years following major eruptions.
However, ash and aerosols are not the same thing.
Short term geohazards from ash in the atmosphere include
aviation hazards (discussed above), human and animal
respiration problems. Fallout of the ash causes other problems
such as damaging crops and infrastructure.”
DANGERS of ASHFALL
• 1 square inch of ash weighs up to 10 pounds dry and up
to 15 pounds when wet.
• Can dissipate into the high altitude wind stream and
travel around the globe, possibly causing world-wide
temperature changes.
Dealing with ASH FALL
• In ashy areas, use dust masks and eye protection. If you don't
have a dust mask, use a wet handkerchief.
• As much as possible, keep ash out of buildings, machinery,
air and water supplies, downspouts, storm-drains, etc.
• Stay indoors to minimize exposure –
especially if you have respiratory ailments.
• Do not travel -- hazardous to you and your car.
• Don't tie up phone line with non-emergency calls.
• Use your radio for information on the Ashfall.
Advice from Dr. Greg Valentine
• What would you personally do in preparation for a very
large eruption that may cause long-term global effects?
 “Make sure I had access to non-perishable food,
water, and sources of power.”
Be Safe and Be Prepared!
Lance Lockwood
Justin Luther
Silvia Martinez
Abbigail Miller
Misty Poe
Baylee Welch
Special Thanks to Dr. Williams!