NATURAL HAZARDS VOLCANOES - Essay Example

Natural Hazard and Volcanoes Part 1. There are approximately twenty one islands which are part of the Caribbean Island Arc System, namely Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, St. Martin, Barbuda, Antigua, Montserrat, Grenada, Guadeloupe, St. Lucia, Martinique, Dominica, St. Vincent, Barbados, Tobago, Trinidad and Venezuela. (Montserrat Volcano Observatory). The number of Caribbean Arc Islands that existed in the Eocene is a bit speculative, based on the geological links and history, and the types of rocks and land mass found, but based on the geology of islands such as Trinidad, Puerto Rico, Barbados, Venezuela and the Lesser Antilles it suggests that they existed in the Eocene.

(Adams, 1981). 2. Volcanoes are very likely to erupt on these islands due to the existence of ‘live’ volcanic centers. It is more likely to occur in other countries such as Nevis, Eustatius and Saba in the near future because they have live volcanic centers. (University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre)3. A super-volcano is a volcano with the capability of producing a volcanic eruption of ejecta greater than 1000 cubic kilometers or 240 cubic miles. (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).4. When a super-volcanic eruption occurs, usually it covers extensive areas with volcanic ash and lava that results in a prolong weather change such as the reduction in the temperature of the atmosphere and the earth’s surface, referred to as ice age or glacial age, which can threaten the life of species.

(Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). Part 2Questions 5 and 6Sketch showing cross-section of the Caribbean Arc (What on Earth website).Sketch showing cross-section of the Yellowstone Caldera (National Park Service).Part 3Questions 7 and 8Volcanic eruptions, though disruptive and destructive to human, the environment and animal life, provides immense benefits to people who live near to them. The ash that is thrown when there is a volcanic eruption can be very harmful to the environment shortly after, however in the long term the ash layer converts to a very fertile soil, which contains many useful minerals.

Volcanoes can produce very magnificent scenery like the beautiful sunsets from explosive eruptions.  They also create beautiful lava fountains, stunning eruptions and plant-rich environments. People will return and live after a volcanic eruption because of the fertile soil around the volcano, where they use the rich soil for farming.    The resources that are produced from volcanic eruptions are used for energy extraction, also called geothermal resources.  Energy is produced as a result of heat from the earths crust.

  The great advantages are that this energy is very clean and the resources are almost inexhaustible.Another great economical benefit of volcanic eruptions is that it generates tourism. This translates to jobs and foreign exchange income. This can also result in an improvement in people’s standard of living. (Think Quest Education Foundation).Volcanic eruptions are not only devastating, but also deadly, therefore people living close to a volcanic area must be aware and be adequately prepared of all the warning signs and the imminent hazards and dangers that occur during a volcanic eruption.

Safety has to be the priority of everyone, because volcanoes explode and emit gases into the air, also hot solid and molten rock fragments. This results in ash-flows falling on all sides of a volcano, reaching hundreds of miles. Other hazards that can occur include mudflows, flash flood, landslides and rock-falls, earthquakes, acid and tsunamis. (American Red Cross Website).There are instruments and methods available, which are used to predict and monitor a volcanic eruption. Some of these instruments are seismographic monitoring, to detect earth tremors, tilt-meters for ground deformation, surveillance by satellite and gas and steam emissions.

Some of the challenges in relation to hazard monitoring are the cost of the instruments, emissions that are harmful to observers and cause damage to instruments.Hazard assessment maps define the maximum risks and the greatest danger around a volcano.  Very importantly the danger zones are highlighted very precisely and accurately so the necessary steps can be taken for people who are living in those danger zones can be evacuated. Persons may also contact the police in regards to evacuation plans.

(Think Quest Education Foundation). People must be equipped with a battery-operated radio or television to keep up-to-date with the latest emergency information. The conditions specific to the strato-volcano and the shield volcano are that they are the largest but their shapes differ. This is due to the difference in chemistry of the erupting magma. These volcanoes will erupt many times over hundreds and thousands of years. Cinder cones, la pilli cones and maars are smaller volcanoes, and they come with different morphologies, short life and erupt only once.

(National Resources Canada website).ReferencesMontserrat Volcano Observatory website. (n. d.). Caribbean Arc. Retrieved from www.mvo.ms/ Adams, C. D. (1981). Caribbean Islands Overview: Department of Botany. Retrieved from http://botany.si.edu/projects/cpd/ma/ma-carib.htmThe University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre website. (n. d.). Retrieved from http://www.uwiseismic.com/Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia website. (n. d.). Retrieved from en.wikipedia.orgOracle ThinkQuest Education Foundation. (n. d.). Retrieved from http://library.

thinkquest.org/17457/volcanoesAmerican Red Cross Website. (n. d.). Preparing for Events, Volcanoes. Retrieved from www.redcross.orgWhat on Earth website. (n. d.). Caribbean Plate. Retrieved fromhttp://whatonearth.olehnielsen.dk/plates/caribbean.asp National Park Service website. (n. d.). Yellostone caldera. Retrieved from www.nps.gov/archive/yell/tours/fountainpaint/hotspot-yell.htm National Resources Canada website. (n. d.). Retrieved from http://gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/volcanoes/type-e.php