Posted on 03/07/2018 8:56:44 PM PST by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at nature.com ...
It should go to eleven.
Mt Helens was active back in Jan. Don’t know about now, though.
Exactly how would one go about preparing for such a disaster?
BS There is, ... Gin and Tonic x 6, Cute Divorcee that you would NEVER talk to under normal circumstances and an Ice Chest full of Beer in the Hotel Room... spring for the one with the Hot Tub.
“I would think farming could be heavily impacted so long-lasting food storage would be important.”
Some insects store several years worth of food in their nests. No doubt many events have occurred throughout the planet’s history that suppressed plant growth for years
I don't know about "ever" -- the last major period of glaciation had humans right at the brink of extinction. But, Yellowstone going in a big way would certainly be far beyond the experiences of humans for several thousand years.
It could go anytime but it might not go for thousands of years yet. Lets hope.....
Agreed, there. I don't think we'd be pushed to the brink of extinction, but we could well lose a big chunk of the (human) population. Granted that several other threats, like a Carrington event with somewhat more strength, could "do it" too.
Luckily (maybe), there is some evidence that thicker, stronger crustal rock is moving over the upwelling at Yellowstone. So, if it doesn't blow "soon" (in geological terms), it may not for a long time.
By far the best thing you can do to prepare is to purchase volcano insurance. And lucky for you, I just happen to sell it
Failure to do so will result in no insurance payments for any damages.
If total crop cycles are off 80%, for two years, that’s a lot to have stored and a lot of starvation.
Individuals could store a lot of staples, but only a very small percentage would do so.
I guess it would be too easy to take some of this money paid out in the name of climate change grants and Put it toward better technologies that can predict volcanic eruptions.
A massive eruption will really screw with our climate.
I am worried most by Yellowstone.
Of course, it’s in our neighborhood -North America.
All the prepping wont help you if Yellowstone blows and you live in Jackson Hole!
I believe the lethal blast radius will extend beyond Jackson Hole...
Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions rock South America leading to fears BIG ONE is coming
https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/750133/earthquake-volcano-ring-of-fire-big-one
?????...how are we supposed to be prepared? The thing is you have no clue as to the type or violent explosion that will happen. Or exactly when...or where....just like an earthquake....you just don’t know....
VEI 10 is basically the theoretical power of a super volcano - but since none has erupted in recorded human history, were Yellowstone, the Italian one, or the Siberian one to blow the VEI could be through 10 and on to 15 even 20 - your guess is as good as any. (Each power is 10 X the previous number).
That's a point that has irked me for some time, and further, it seems to me we should be working on how to get through any of a number of potential global catastrophes, as we now know they DO or can happen: Major solar storms (Carrington event or bigger), major nuclear war, asteroid or comet impact, and we still only partially understand our cyclic periods of glaciation, one of which may be (if the pattern holds) just about due. (Some evidence suggests a longer interglacial this time around, somewhat similar to an interglacial that occurred 430,000 years ago, but the evidence is shaky at best, IMO.)
A massive eruption will really screw with our climate.
This seems likely, however, the really big swings in climate for the last several million years seem independent of the eruptions @ the hotspot now under Yellowstone during that period. Something to ponder...
(See Wikipedia's articles on Ice Ages and on Yellowstone. Before 10 million years ago, the record is uncertain enough to be, well, uncertain!)
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