Volcanic eruption ‘3000 years overdue’ in Australia, warns scientist

Trak.in.News ^ | September 21, 2009 | by ANI

[Fred Nerks]

Sydney, September 21 (ANI): A scientist has said that a volcanic eruption is “well overdue” in Australia from the past 3,000 years and there are hundreds of volcanoes that could cause trouble, from South Australia and Victoria through to Queensland.

According to a report by Fairfax Digital Network, Melbourne geologist Bernie Joyce has made the warning.

He said that there are 400 volcanoes in Victoria and South Australia, and almost as many in Queensland.

“A significant eruption seems well overdue,” said Professor Joyce, who has been associated with the University of Melbourne.

“We can’t say with 100 per cent certainty that a significant volcano will strike tomorrow, next week, next year, or even 100 years down the track,” he added.

Professor Joyce said that there has been a volcanic eruption about every 2000 years in Australia, but the last one was 5000 years ago.

That means an eruption is 3000 years overdue.

This is the reason that Professor Joyce wants “eruption response plans” to be drawn up.

“These geo-hazards are real and they must be given much more focus by emergency management authorities,” he said. (ANI)

[Fred Nerks]

He said that there are 400 volcanoes in Victoria and South Australia, and almost as many in Queensland.

[Fred Nerks]

Volcanoes of Australia

http://www.volcanolive.com/australia.html

[Rocky]

Nice site. Mt. Napier appears to be the youngest one in Victoria.

[Fred Nerks]

Is this the same one?

Mount Gambier ( Eastern South Australia ) Australia's youngest volcano. A volcano filled with water. Erupted 4,500 years ago

website link

[onedoug]

Tectonics: Can’t live with it. Can’t live without it.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

God is saving it all up.

[JoeProBono]

[Fred Nerks]

Yikes! I live near the rim the Tweed Valley shield Volcano, don't want to think about it!

Mount Warning is the central remnant (volcanic plug) of an ancient shield volcano, the Tweed Volcano, formerly twice the height of the current mountain, which erupted 22 million years ago. The erosion caldera formed since this eruption is easily visible around the summit and forms the rim of the Tweed Valley. One of the mountains that were formed by its eruption was Tamborine Mountain

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

Tweed has moved off its hot spot over the millions of years.

[Othniel]

Sure, 400 in Victoria, and almost as many in Queensland, but how many have shown any kind of activity? Earthquakes? Increase in gasses? Temperature changes? Movement of magma under the ground? Carbonates appearing in local water? These things are precursers to an eruption. Should these things be absent, seems to me there's not much to worry about. Organize yourself, yes. Gather data and monitor them, yes. But until then don't lets whip up the masses in a frightened froth.

[17th Miss Regt]

But until then don't lets whip up the masses in a frightened froth.

But that is the main tool of the Democrats.

[Fred Nerks]

Gather data and monitor them, yes. But until then don't lets whip up the masses in a frightened froth.

I agree. There have been no signs of activity that I can find.

[Daniel II]

There ya go again. Trying to eject [sic] some common sense into things. What do you think this is? A lesson in logic?

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Fred Nerks!

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[gleeaikin]

Australia could use some good recent volcanic activity, preferably away from well populated areas. It would do wonders for the soil fertility.

[Fred Nerks]

http://www.largeigneousprovinces.org/07aug.html

problem:

all the extinct volcanoes are in populated areas.

[SunkenCiv]

Not sure the Australians would agree. ;’)