Volcanologists warn world is unprepared for next major eruption

Nature ^ | 6 mar, 2018 | Alexandra Witze

[MtnClimber]

The world needs to do more to prepare for the next huge volcanic eruption, a team of leading scientists says.

The devastating Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 and the Tōhoku earthquake in Japan in 2011 highlighted some of the worst-case scenarios for natural disasters. But humanity has not had to deal with a cataclysmic volcanic disaster since at least 1815, when the eruption of Tambora in Indonesia killed tens of thousands of people and led to a ‘year without a summer’ in Europe and North America. Such world-altering blasts rank at 7 or more on the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) scale of eruptions, which goes to 8.

“The next VEI-7 eruption could occur within our lifetimes, or it could be hundreds of years down the road,” says Chris Newhall, a volcanologist with the Mirisbiris Garden and Nature Center in Santo Domingo, Philippines. But the time to have this discussion is now, he says, so that researchers and government officials can plan and prepare before an emergency strikes.

[MtnClimber]

I am worried most by Yellowstone.

[Beowulf9]

Ring of fire right now seems to be cooking pretty intensely.

[MtnClimber]

I have climbed many volcanos along the ring of fire.

[sparklite2]

Yup. That looks to be the next big ‘un.

[beethovenfan]

So we’re supposed to do what, exactly?

[Lakeshark]

Worry.

Oh noes.....

[MtnClimber]

I would think farming could be heavily impacted so long-lasting food storage would be important.

[Seruzawa]

Increase govt grants of course, silly.

[Fungi]

Chicken little has an eternal website. How did they find it?

[DanielRedfoot]

Let me say now I don’t know
I don’t know
I don’t know where You suposta go
When the volcano blow

[hinckley buzzard]

The chances of Yellowstone exploding during the lifetime of anyone here, are greater than zero but vanishingly small. Better to spend your energy on things that matter, like the next election.

[occamrzr06]

So we’re supposed to do what, exactly?

Drink water, take Motrin, change your socks and get back in the fight.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

Put on clean underwear.

[BenLurkin]

Been real quiet in SoCal.

Real quiet.

[Slyfox]

Is the world ever prepared for the next major eruption?

[occamrzr06]

They never told us that in the Army, socks was about it.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

Mom always insisted.

[umgud]

I’m somewhat of a prepper, but the best I can do is not live in a volcano’s path.

[MtnClimber]

All the prepping won’t help you if Yellowstone blows and you live in Jackson Hole!