We need to keep pushing to better communicate hazards and how to stay safe
I believe that as a scientist, outreach is part of my job and is our collective responsibility. We have information that can save lives and improve quality of life and we must keep working to find more effective ways to share it. We don't dumb science down, we translate it so everyone can benefit from it.
I believe it is important to work with the media to ensure correct information about volcanoes, hazards, risk, and preparedness is widely shared. I have done over 200 media interviews to date for recorded and live television, recorded and live radio, and online articles. Some of these are given below.
"Publish. Communicate. Engage" - from the Scientific American article 'Why Are Scientists So Averse to Public Engagement? It’s time to confront our demons.' This article explores how important it is for us, as scientists, to engage with communities about our research, and why many scientists hesitate to do so.
I believe it is important to work with the media to ensure correct information about volcanoes, hazards, risk, and preparedness is widely shared. I have done over 200 media interviews to date for recorded and live television, recorded and live radio, and online articles. Some of these are given below.
"Publish. Communicate. Engage" - from the Scientific American article 'Why Are Scientists So Averse to Public Engagement? It’s time to confront our demons.' This article explores how important it is for us, as scientists, to engage with communities about our research, and why many scientists hesitate to do so.
Science is Awesome - what I do!I have been fascinated with studying pyroclastic flows - very hot and very fast, deadly avalanches of rock and gas that race down volcanoes. So, how do we study these?
For more information on Pyroclastic flows and their impacts (plus other volcanic processes), you can view videos here.
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How volcanoes work, explained by a volcanologist
Volcanologist Janine Krippner dives into the details of how volcanoes work and the different types of lava flows. A resource with classrooms in mind with Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., link here.
Volcanologist Janine Krippner dives into the details of how volcanoes work and the different types of lava flows. A resource with classrooms in mind with Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., link here.
Volcano video series - Volcano Moments with Dr. Janine Krippner
To create something helpful and positive during the pandemic (and beyond), I have a video series interviewing volcanologists around the world about different aspects of volcanoes and eruptions, such as the video below.
Check out the videos here.
To create something helpful and positive during the pandemic (and beyond), I have a video series interviewing volcanologists around the world about different aspects of volcanoes and eruptions, such as the video below.
Check out the videos here.
New Editorial! The use of social media in volcano science communication: challenges and opportunities
By Williams, R. and Krippner, J. (2019)
"During a volcanic crisis, effective communication be-
tween the institution responsible for monitoring the
volcano, local government, civil defense authorities, the
media and ultimately the public is essential to ensuring
safe management of the crisis."
Read the full editorial (open access) here: www.jvolcanica.org/ojs/index.php/volcanica/article/view/25
By Williams, R. and Krippner, J. (2019)
"During a volcanic crisis, effective communication be-
tween the institution responsible for monitoring the
volcano, local government, civil defense authorities, the
media and ultimately the public is essential to ensuring
safe management of the crisis."
Read the full editorial (open access) here: www.jvolcanica.org/ojs/index.php/volcanica/article/view/25
Why Indonesia's 'volcano tsunami' gave little to no warning
Unlike past disasters triggered by earthquakes, this week's deadly tsunami was likely sparked by unrest of the Anak Krakatau volcano.
“It could be that the activity this year built up material that contributed to this probable collapse event,” Concord University volcanologist Janine Krippner says via direct message. “But it is too early to tell.”
The volcanic collapse could have alternatively resulted from material that's built up over the decades. Back in 2012, researchers modeled the effects of a massive collapse of the volcano's southern flank, and they concluded that the resulting tsunami could trigger 50- to 100-foot-tall waves on nearby shores within a minute.
“What this tells us is that a collapse and tsunami was a known hazard at Anak Krakatau,” Krippner says. “But even knowing this does not mean that when and how big can be predicted.”
Though scientists can analyze past events to model possible
future ones, it's still impossible to give much warning for these landslide-driven local tsunamis. The devastating 2004 earthquake and tsunami off the coast of Sumatra sparked a slew of studies into early warning systems for earthquake-generated waves. But this latest event, as well as another “surprise” tsunami earlier this year near Palu, Indonesia, underscore the need for more work.
“With such an active volcano, the hazards may change over time,” Krippner says. “This is a complicated situation, and it does not fall under the usual tsunami warning category, as there was no earthquake preceding the event.”
Read full National Geographic article here.
Unlike past disasters triggered by earthquakes, this week's deadly tsunami was likely sparked by unrest of the Anak Krakatau volcano.
“It could be that the activity this year built up material that contributed to this probable collapse event,” Concord University volcanologist Janine Krippner says via direct message. “But it is too early to tell.”
The volcanic collapse could have alternatively resulted from material that's built up over the decades. Back in 2012, researchers modeled the effects of a massive collapse of the volcano's southern flank, and they concluded that the resulting tsunami could trigger 50- to 100-foot-tall waves on nearby shores within a minute.
“What this tells us is that a collapse and tsunami was a known hazard at Anak Krakatau,” Krippner says. “But even knowing this does not mean that when and how big can be predicted.”
Though scientists can analyze past events to model possible
future ones, it's still impossible to give much warning for these landslide-driven local tsunamis. The devastating 2004 earthquake and tsunami off the coast of Sumatra sparked a slew of studies into early warning systems for earthquake-generated waves. But this latest event, as well as another “surprise” tsunami earlier this year near Palu, Indonesia, underscore the need for more work.
“With such an active volcano, the hazards may change over time,” Krippner says. “This is a complicated situation, and it does not fall under the usual tsunami warning category, as there was no earthquake preceding the event.”
Read full National Geographic article here.
A Tsunami Has Killed Hundreds in Indonesia. Here's What to Know About the Latest Deadly Natural Disaster to Hit the Country
Scientists, including those from Indonesia’s Meteorology and Geophysics agency, are continuing to analyze why the tsunami happened, but have pointed to undersea landslides following the volcanic eruption as a possible root cause. “Over the last month, Krakatoa has been increasingly active again and the activity we have been seeing was pretty normal for this volcano,” says Dr. Janine Krippner, Volcanologist at Concord University. “It looks like a case of the tsunami was a partial flank collapse at Krakatoa, which is where part of the material of the volcano collapses into the sea.”
Read full Time Magazine article here
Scientists, including those from Indonesia’s Meteorology and Geophysics agency, are continuing to analyze why the tsunami happened, but have pointed to undersea landslides following the volcanic eruption as a possible root cause. “Over the last month, Krakatoa has been increasingly active again and the activity we have been seeing was pretty normal for this volcano,” says Dr. Janine Krippner, Volcanologist at Concord University. “It looks like a case of the tsunami was a partial flank collapse at Krakatoa, which is where part of the material of the volcano collapses into the sea.”
Read full Time Magazine article here
Did Vesuvius vaporize its victims? Get the facts.
Residue on bones from A.D. 79 suggests the eruption boiled people alive. But some experts aren’t convinced the deaths were due to heat alone.
Modern analogs may shed some light on the debate. Janine Krippner, a volcanologist at Concord University in Athens, West Virginia, points out that pyroclastic flows and surges still happen today, and they are not always a guarantee of a quick, painless demise. The outcome depends on how fast, hot, ashy, and gassy the currents are, among other things. If it is diluted enough, you might even be able to survive the severe heat-related trauma.
Read full National Geographic article here
Residue on bones from A.D. 79 suggests the eruption boiled people alive. But some experts aren’t convinced the deaths were due to heat alone.
Modern analogs may shed some light on the debate. Janine Krippner, a volcanologist at Concord University in Athens, West Virginia, points out that pyroclastic flows and surges still happen today, and they are not always a guarantee of a quick, painless demise. The outcome depends on how fast, hot, ashy, and gassy the currents are, among other things. If it is diluted enough, you might even be able to survive the severe heat-related trauma.
Read full National Geographic article here
An Italian volcano’s massive eruptions fit a pattern — and the cycle may have restarted
Here we go again?
That doesn’t mean that people shouldn’t do their best to prepare for the potential hazard of a caldera-forming eruption.
“These really big eruptions are extremely low probability,” Krippner says. “But if it does happen, we need to know as much as we can.” This study adds to that growing body of knowledge about Campi Flegrei.
Krippner and Forni both emphasize that Campi Flegrei’s activity is extremely closely monitored by local authorities. They also point out that emergency planners are constantly on the lookout for much smaller signs of eruptive activity at the volcano. Preparing for future eruptions, whether they are caldera-forming colossuses or something far smaller, is a fact of life for the people who live in the area.
“Because there is a city built in this caldera, even small eruptions can be very destructive,” Krippner says. “There are 800 million people living near volcanos around the world, and in this case, they’re living inside of one.”
Read the full The Verge article here.
Here we go again?
That doesn’t mean that people shouldn’t do their best to prepare for the potential hazard of a caldera-forming eruption.
“These really big eruptions are extremely low probability,” Krippner says. “But if it does happen, we need to know as much as we can.” This study adds to that growing body of knowledge about Campi Flegrei.
Krippner and Forni both emphasize that Campi Flegrei’s activity is extremely closely monitored by local authorities. They also point out that emergency planners are constantly on the lookout for much smaller signs of eruptive activity at the volcano. Preparing for future eruptions, whether they are caldera-forming colossuses or something far smaller, is a fact of life for the people who live in the area.
“Because there is a city built in this caldera, even small eruptions can be very destructive,” Krippner says. “There are 800 million people living near volcanos around the world, and in this case, they’re living inside of one.”
Read the full The Verge article here.
A Volcano Just Erupted On Indonesia's Tsunami-Hit Island. Here's What You Need To Know
So, what’s happening with Soputan right now? According to a press release by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG), released on its MAGMA site – and highlighted by Concord University volcanologist Janine Krippner – it’s showing increased seismic and thermal activity.
Thermal cameras are showing that the top of the volcano is hotter than it was a few weeks back, suggesting a high temperature magma is pooling there. Although no ash plumes have been observed, it appears that far more volcanic gas is escaping at the summit today compared to a month ago. In addition, back in September, there were around 2 quakes on the volcano per day. Now, on average, there are 101 per day, and it appears that number is now increasing very rapidly. This could potentially indicate magma moving through the crust, perhaps toward the surface.
This all suggests that, as the PVMBG puts it, “the potential for an eruption at Soputan has increased.” The local alert level has been raised, and several recommendations have gone out.
Read the full Forbes article here.
So, what’s happening with Soputan right now? According to a press release by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG), released on its MAGMA site – and highlighted by Concord University volcanologist Janine Krippner – it’s showing increased seismic and thermal activity.
Thermal cameras are showing that the top of the volcano is hotter than it was a few weeks back, suggesting a high temperature magma is pooling there. Although no ash plumes have been observed, it appears that far more volcanic gas is escaping at the summit today compared to a month ago. In addition, back in September, there were around 2 quakes on the volcano per day. Now, on average, there are 101 per day, and it appears that number is now increasing very rapidly. This could potentially indicate magma moving through the crust, perhaps toward the surface.
This all suggests that, as the PVMBG puts it, “the potential for an eruption at Soputan has increased.” The local alert level has been raised, and several recommendations have gone out.
Read the full Forbes article here.
Two Active Volcanoes in Japan May Share a Magma Source
Evidence collected following the 2011 eruption of Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano suggests that the powerful event affected the behavior of an active caldera nearby.
“When a volcano enters a period of unrest or eruption, a common concern from communities and media is the chance of a neighboring volcano being ‘triggered,’” said Janine Krippner, a volcanologist and postdoctoral researcher at Concord University in Athens, W.Va., who was not involved with the project.
“Research into the relationships between neighboring volcanic systems is important, but it is rare that evidence is found for systems affecting one another,” she said. “This study is a step in the direction of understanding any links between neighboring volcanic systems.”
Although the research is very promising, more evidence is needed to solidify the ties between the two volcanoes, Krippner added. For example, repeat observations of the volcanoes during the time before and after an eruption, as well as geochemical analysis of the pair’s eruption products, could help. “I would expect to see similarities in geochemistry trends—the magma ‘genetics’—in eruption products like lavas, volcanic ash, and pyroclastic deposits if they have a common source,” she said.
Past geochemical studies have shown that eruption products from the two volcanic systems have similar isotope ratios for strontium and neodymium, the paper notes. However, Brothelande told Eos, a “real comparative study is still required” to geochemically link Shinmoedake and Aira to a common source.
Read the full AGU EOS article here.
Evidence collected following the 2011 eruption of Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano suggests that the powerful event affected the behavior of an active caldera nearby.
“When a volcano enters a period of unrest or eruption, a common concern from communities and media is the chance of a neighboring volcano being ‘triggered,’” said Janine Krippner, a volcanologist and postdoctoral researcher at Concord University in Athens, W.Va., who was not involved with the project.
“Research into the relationships between neighboring volcanic systems is important, but it is rare that evidence is found for systems affecting one another,” she said. “This study is a step in the direction of understanding any links between neighboring volcanic systems.”
Although the research is very promising, more evidence is needed to solidify the ties between the two volcanoes, Krippner added. For example, repeat observations of the volcanoes during the time before and after an eruption, as well as geochemical analysis of the pair’s eruption products, could help. “I would expect to see similarities in geochemistry trends—the magma ‘genetics’—in eruption products like lavas, volcanic ash, and pyroclastic deposits if they have a common source,” she said.
Past geochemical studies have shown that eruption products from the two volcanic systems have similar isotope ratios for strontium and neodymium, the paper notes. However, Brothelande told Eos, a “real comparative study is still required” to geochemically link Shinmoedake and Aira to a common source.
Read the full AGU EOS article here.
I had a great time doing a Reddit AMA (ask me anything) for National Geographic!
Hi, I’m Dr. Janine Krippner and I am a volcanologist interested in explosive volcanic eruption processes, in particular, pyroclastic flows.
Edit: Thank you all for joining in on the volcano fun! Our time is up, but you can catch me on Twitter: @janinekrippner. Have a lavaly day!
Did you know that there are over 1400 volcanoes around the world that are young enough to ‘wake up’ any time soon? Did you know that there are around 40 volcanoes around the world producing eruptive activity today? Each one of these volcanoes has their own ‘personality’, which complicates volcano monitoring. To understand what a specific volcano might do, it is essential to understand what it has done in the past and to monitor the volcano using different tools and technology.
Pyroclastic flows are very hot, very fast deadly avalanches of volcanic rock and gas that race down a volcano. These are common phenomena at eruptions of all sizes and can occur with ash plumes (volcanic ash is ground rock, glass, and crystals), and lahars (dangerous volcanic mudflows) when water gets involved. These explosive volcanic eruptions threaten life around the world, and more so as populations grow to encroach on volcanoes.
I love communicating volcanology science, hazards, and activity, so if you have questions about any aspect of volcanoes, ask away!
*Quick note: I’ve also asked Dr. Wendy Stovall from the USGS Volcano Hazards Program to help me answer any specific questions people have about Yellowstone or Kilauea. All answers from her will be signed WS.
See all the questions and answers here.
Hi, I’m Dr. Janine Krippner and I am a volcanologist interested in explosive volcanic eruption processes, in particular, pyroclastic flows.
Edit: Thank you all for joining in on the volcano fun! Our time is up, but you can catch me on Twitter: @janinekrippner. Have a lavaly day!
Did you know that there are over 1400 volcanoes around the world that are young enough to ‘wake up’ any time soon? Did you know that there are around 40 volcanoes around the world producing eruptive activity today? Each one of these volcanoes has their own ‘personality’, which complicates volcano monitoring. To understand what a specific volcano might do, it is essential to understand what it has done in the past and to monitor the volcano using different tools and technology.
Pyroclastic flows are very hot, very fast deadly avalanches of volcanic rock and gas that race down a volcano. These are common phenomena at eruptions of all sizes and can occur with ash plumes (volcanic ash is ground rock, glass, and crystals), and lahars (dangerous volcanic mudflows) when water gets involved. These explosive volcanic eruptions threaten life around the world, and more so as populations grow to encroach on volcanoes.
I love communicating volcanology science, hazards, and activity, so if you have questions about any aspect of volcanoes, ask away!
*Quick note: I’ve also asked Dr. Wendy Stovall from the USGS Volcano Hazards Program to help me answer any specific questions people have about Yellowstone or Kilauea. All answers from her will be signed WS.
See all the questions and answers here.
This May Be the Most Dangerous U.S. Volcano
Move over, Yellowstone: Geologists are far more worried about a postcard-perfect peak in the Pacific Northwest.
However, ask a volcanologist where the real risk in the U.S. lurks, and there’s a good chance that they will turn their gaze to the Pacific Northwest.
Nestled among the Cascade mountain range sits Mount Rainier, a postcard-perfect natural wonder—and a volcano that causes scientists genuine concern. It’s unclear when it will stir from its long slumber, and there’s no sign that anything is imminent. Nevertheless, a future eruption could cause one of the worst natural disasters in the U.S. (See pictures of the 10 most dangerous volcanoes in the U.S.)
Unlike its infamous cousin, Mount St. Helens, Rainier is not known to be particularly explosive. And yet, Janine Krippner, a volcanologist at Concord University, is unequivocal in her assessment.
“Rainier is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world,” she says. “It’s a huge concern.”
America’s Armero?To make the case, Krippner points to Colombia’s Nevado del Ruiz volcano, which experienced a notorious eruption in November 1985. In that event, neither lava nor pyroclastic flows of hot gas and ash were the killer elements. Instead, the paroxysm quickly melted the volcano’s summit glaciers, and fresh floodwaters rapidly entrained and mobilized the loose sediment on the volcano’s flanks.
[NOTE: There is no new activity at Rainier, this article explores the known hazards of this volcano. More info. can be found here.]
Read full National Geographic article here.
Move over, Yellowstone: Geologists are far more worried about a postcard-perfect peak in the Pacific Northwest.
However, ask a volcanologist where the real risk in the U.S. lurks, and there’s a good chance that they will turn their gaze to the Pacific Northwest.
Nestled among the Cascade mountain range sits Mount Rainier, a postcard-perfect natural wonder—and a volcano that causes scientists genuine concern. It’s unclear when it will stir from its long slumber, and there’s no sign that anything is imminent. Nevertheless, a future eruption could cause one of the worst natural disasters in the U.S. (See pictures of the 10 most dangerous volcanoes in the U.S.)
Unlike its infamous cousin, Mount St. Helens, Rainier is not known to be particularly explosive. And yet, Janine Krippner, a volcanologist at Concord University, is unequivocal in her assessment.
“Rainier is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world,” she says. “It’s a huge concern.”
America’s Armero?To make the case, Krippner points to Colombia’s Nevado del Ruiz volcano, which experienced a notorious eruption in November 1985. In that event, neither lava nor pyroclastic flows of hot gas and ash were the killer elements. Instead, the paroxysm quickly melted the volcano’s summit glaciers, and fresh floodwaters rapidly entrained and mobilized the loose sediment on the volcano’s flanks.
[NOTE: There is no new activity at Rainier, this article explores the known hazards of this volcano. More info. can be found here.]
Read full National Geographic article here.
Carolina Weather Group Podcast
Are Volcano eruptions on the rise? How can we predict when eruptions will occur? What causes an eruption? Our guest this week, Volcanologist Dr. Janine Krippner from Concord University in West Virginia, answers those questions and more!
Are Volcano eruptions on the rise? How can we predict when eruptions will occur? What causes an eruption? Our guest this week, Volcanologist Dr. Janine Krippner from Concord University in West Virginia, answers those questions and more!
Episode 45: Crisis Communication of Volcanic Proportions
Castle and Minh are joined by Dr. Janine Krippner to talk about the vast world of volcanology, the recent Kīlauea event, social media, and risk communication.
Listen to the podcast episode here.
Castle and Minh are joined by Dr. Janine Krippner to talk about the vast world of volcanology, the recent Kīlauea event, social media, and risk communication.
Listen to the podcast episode here.
No, Hawaii's Volcano Won't Trigger a Mega-Tsunami
Here are all the ways the Hawaiian eruption won't cause problems, according to experts.
One fear percolating through the conversation is that Kilauea's ongoing eruption will trigger a chain reaction, causing other nearby volcanoes to erupt.
“I'm shaking my head as you're saying that,” says volcanologist Janine Krippner, when asked about the notion. “It's extremely rare for a volcano to trigger other volcanoes.”
Unlike non-volcanic earthquakes, which can cause other quakes along the same fault line, volcanoes are individually fueled by different underground systems. The Hawaiian islands formed as a chain, which scientists think is fed by a “hot spot” of magma rising to the surface. Currently, the Big Island is closest to that hot spot and so it has the most active volcanoes. But each one is individually fed by its own distinct magmatic plumbing.
Read the full National Geographic article here.
Here are all the ways the Hawaiian eruption won't cause problems, according to experts.
One fear percolating through the conversation is that Kilauea's ongoing eruption will trigger a chain reaction, causing other nearby volcanoes to erupt.
“I'm shaking my head as you're saying that,” says volcanologist Janine Krippner, when asked about the notion. “It's extremely rare for a volcano to trigger other volcanoes.”
Unlike non-volcanic earthquakes, which can cause other quakes along the same fault line, volcanoes are individually fueled by different underground systems. The Hawaiian islands formed as a chain, which scientists think is fed by a “hot spot” of magma rising to the surface. Currently, the Big Island is closest to that hot spot and so it has the most active volcanoes. But each one is individually fed by its own distinct magmatic plumbing.
Read the full National Geographic article here.
Scientists Fight Volcano Myths As Kilauea Erupts
Emphasizing the likelihood of a specific scenario is a hallmark of good disaster communication, according to Concord University volcanologist Janine Krippner.
“There are people who look at limited data and make wild predictions very confidently, but if you really know how uncertain they are, [you] don’t do that,” she told Earther. “We don’t want to scare people, we don’t want to unnecessarily dramatize things. ”
Read the full Earther article here.
Emphasizing the likelihood of a specific scenario is a hallmark of good disaster communication, according to Concord University volcanologist Janine Krippner.
“There are people who look at limited data and make wild predictions very confidently, but if you really know how uncertain they are, [you] don’t do that,” she told Earther. “We don’t want to scare people, we don’t want to unnecessarily dramatize things. ”
Read the full Earther article here.
Falling into lava would be a pretty hot mess
‘The water in the body would probably boil to steam, all while the lava is melting the body from the outside in.’
Now, falling into lava is another story. The extreme heat would probably burn your lungs and cause your organs to fail. “The water in the body would probably boil to steam, all while the lava is melting the body from the outside in,” Damby says. (No worries, though, the volcanic gases would probably knock you unconscious.) But unlike one of the characters in the 1997 film Volcano or Gollum in The Lord of the Rings, you wouldn’t sink into the lava and liquefy like the Wicked Witch of the West, says Klemetti, who wrote about those scenes in a 2011 Wired article. Lava may look like a liquid, but it’s not like water: it’s too sticky and viscous. “So you’d be sitting on top of the lava flow,” says Janine Krippner, a volcanologist at Concord University.
Read full The Verge article here.
‘The water in the body would probably boil to steam, all while the lava is melting the body from the outside in.’
Now, falling into lava is another story. The extreme heat would probably burn your lungs and cause your organs to fail. “The water in the body would probably boil to steam, all while the lava is melting the body from the outside in,” Damby says. (No worries, though, the volcanic gases would probably knock you unconscious.) But unlike one of the characters in the 1997 film Volcano or Gollum in The Lord of the Rings, you wouldn’t sink into the lava and liquefy like the Wicked Witch of the West, says Klemetti, who wrote about those scenes in a 2011 Wired article. Lava may look like a liquid, but it’s not like water: it’s too sticky and viscous. “So you’d be sitting on top of the lava flow,” says Janine Krippner, a volcanologist at Concord University.
Read full The Verge article here.
As Hawaii’s Kilauea erupts, volcanologists swarm: ‘I expect great science from this event’
“It’s a chance to really have in-depth monitoring data on this kind of eruption where we know the volcano, we know what happened in the past,” said Janine Krippner, a volcanologist at Concord University in West Virginia.
Krippner noted the recent explosions at the volcano’s summit bear a strong resemblance to an event in 1924. It is almost as though the volcano is reproducing its own experiment, she said, helping researchers revisit and refine their models.
Read full Washington Post article here.
“It’s a chance to really have in-depth monitoring data on this kind of eruption where we know the volcano, we know what happened in the past,” said Janine Krippner, a volcanologist at Concord University in West Virginia.
Krippner noted the recent explosions at the volcano’s summit bear a strong resemblance to an event in 1924. It is almost as though the volcano is reproducing its own experiment, she said, helping researchers revisit and refine their models.
Read full Washington Post article here.
Volcano Kilauea: What stops eruptions of lava?
The pressure caused by the movement of magma built up, and caused a series of earthquakes, which contributed to the eruption.
The specific cause of this eruption - what made the lava lake overflow and then collapse - hasn't been explained yet.
The volume of magma in the lake dropped significantly - by more than 200m.
Unfortunately we don't yet know why the level of the lava lake fluctuated so rapidly, says Dr Janine Krippner, a volcanologist at Concord University.
Read the full BBC article here.
The pressure caused by the movement of magma built up, and caused a series of earthquakes, which contributed to the eruption.
The specific cause of this eruption - what made the lava lake overflow and then collapse - hasn't been explained yet.
The volume of magma in the lake dropped significantly - by more than 200m.
Unfortunately we don't yet know why the level of the lava lake fluctuated so rapidly, says Dr Janine Krippner, a volcanologist at Concord University.
Read the full BBC article here.
A Handy Guide to Volcano Vocab
Laze, vog, lava bomb—we help you decipher what geologists are actually talking aboutOn May 3rd, incandescent lava began oozing from Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano, forming glowing streams of molten rock. Activity intensified last week when steam-powered explosive eruptions burst from its summit crater, sending spectacular plumes of ash, gas and steam thousands of feet into the sky. In recent days, lava fountains hundreds of feet tall began spurting from fissures, putting Earth’s fiery power on full display.
An eruption of volcano news soon followed, bringing with it an array of near-indecipherable geologic jargon. Laze, vog, lava bomb—they sound like words made up for Scrabble scores. To help you find your way through the onslaught, we asked Janine Krippner, a volcanologist and postdoctoral researcher researcher at Concord University, to weigh in on their meanings.
Read the full Smithsonian Magazine article here.
Laze, vog, lava bomb—we help you decipher what geologists are actually talking aboutOn May 3rd, incandescent lava began oozing from Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano, forming glowing streams of molten rock. Activity intensified last week when steam-powered explosive eruptions burst from its summit crater, sending spectacular plumes of ash, gas and steam thousands of feet into the sky. In recent days, lava fountains hundreds of feet tall began spurting from fissures, putting Earth’s fiery power on full display.
An eruption of volcano news soon followed, bringing with it an array of near-indecipherable geologic jargon. Laze, vog, lava bomb—they sound like words made up for Scrabble scores. To help you find your way through the onslaught, we asked Janine Krippner, a volcanologist and postdoctoral researcher researcher at Concord University, to weigh in on their meanings.
Read the full Smithsonian Magazine article here.
Why Blue Flames Are Now Burning at Kilauea
Video published yesterday by the U.S. Geological Survey shows streaks of eerie blue flames springing up between cracks in a road. The otherworldly effect is caused by methane, which is being produced as dead vegetation breaks down and the gas builds up in underground voids. When the methane seeps out and ignites, it produces the strange scene. (Learn the difference between lava and magma.)
The blue flames are only visible at night, so it's unclear how widespread they are and for how long they've been burning.
“They're not a common phenomenon,” says volcanologist Janine Krippner. “The only other place I know of it is in Indonesia.”
Read the full National Geographic article here.
Video published yesterday by the U.S. Geological Survey shows streaks of eerie blue flames springing up between cracks in a road. The otherworldly effect is caused by methane, which is being produced as dead vegetation breaks down and the gas builds up in underground voids. When the methane seeps out and ignites, it produces the strange scene. (Learn the difference between lava and magma.)
The blue flames are only visible at night, so it's unclear how widespread they are and for how long they've been burning.
“They're not a common phenomenon,” says volcanologist Janine Krippner. “The only other place I know of it is in Indonesia.”
Read the full National Geographic article here.
Tracking the Kilauea Eruption
“This eruption could persist for quite a while, but it is impossible to tell how long. This is a dynamic situation, and new fissures could start and stop with little to no warning. The risk of lava inundation is real and significant, depending on where lava is extruded at the surface and how much.” — Janine Krippner.
Read the full NASA article here.
“This eruption could persist for quite a while, but it is impossible to tell how long. This is a dynamic situation, and new fissures could start and stop with little to no warning. The risk of lava inundation is real and significant, depending on where lava is extruded at the surface and how much.” — Janine Krippner.
Read the full NASA article here.
These Are the Biggest Dangers From Hawaii's Erupting Volcano
“The major threat is lava inundation,” says volcanologist Janine Krippner from Concord University. Because this eruption sprang up in an inhabited region, homes have become sitting ducks.
Despite being a well studied and monitored peak, predicting where and when a Kilauea eruption will occur is difficult. Scientists can see the signs of an eruption in the days preceding it—cracks begin to form and seismic activity ramps up. But “it's hard to say how long it will last, because the magma is coming up from so deep,” adds Krippner.
Read the full National Geographic article here.
“The major threat is lava inundation,” says volcanologist Janine Krippner from Concord University. Because this eruption sprang up in an inhabited region, homes have become sitting ducks.
Despite being a well studied and monitored peak, predicting where and when a Kilauea eruption will occur is difficult. Scientists can see the signs of an eruption in the days preceding it—cracks begin to form and seismic activity ramps up. But “it's hard to say how long it will last, because the magma is coming up from so deep,” adds Krippner.
Read the full National Geographic article here.
Will the Eruptions From Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano Turn Explosive? Get the Facts.
But a large crater called Halema'uma'u sits near the center of Kilauea, and it's filled with a lake of bright red and yellow lava. Since late April, that lake has been receding into its magma column, the vertical passage that brings magma from Earth's interior up to the crater. Volcanologist Janine Krippner suspects the magma is either moving to a different storage area in the volcano or to the East Rift Zone, where fissures have been oozing lava, but the magma's movements can't be predicted with complete certainty. (Confused about the difference between magma and lava? Here are the facts.)
Read the full National Geographic article here.
But a large crater called Halema'uma'u sits near the center of Kilauea, and it's filled with a lake of bright red and yellow lava. Since late April, that lake has been receding into its magma column, the vertical passage that brings magma from Earth's interior up to the crater. Volcanologist Janine Krippner suspects the magma is either moving to a different storage area in the volcano or to the East Rift Zone, where fissures have been oozing lava, but the magma's movements can't be predicted with complete certainty. (Confused about the difference between magma and lava? Here are the facts.)
Read the full National Geographic article here.
Why Can't We Artificially Drain Magma Chambers To Stop Volcanic Eruptions?
“You could also come across trapped pressurized fluids which would be a considerable hazard,” Krippner adds, particularly if they cause a sudden explosive rupture or do indeed rush up your borehole. She points out that during hydrocarbon drilling operations, the wellhead has a blowout preventer system to stop the fluids or gas from leaving the well in an emergency situation. Although this normally works, it can fail; the Deepwater Horizon disaster is a particularly grim example of that. The pressures and temperatures involved during hydrocabron drilling are extreme enough, so the idea that we can build a blowout preventer system that can prevent a magmatic blowout is pure fantasy at present.
Read the full Forbes article here.
“You could also come across trapped pressurized fluids which would be a considerable hazard,” Krippner adds, particularly if they cause a sudden explosive rupture or do indeed rush up your borehole. She points out that during hydrocarbon drilling operations, the wellhead has a blowout preventer system to stop the fluids or gas from leaving the well in an emergency situation. Although this normally works, it can fail; the Deepwater Horizon disaster is a particularly grim example of that. The pressures and temperatures involved during hydrocabron drilling are extreme enough, so the idea that we can build a blowout preventer system that can prevent a magmatic blowout is pure fantasy at present.
Read the full Forbes article here.
This Scientist Is Poking A Fresh Lava Flow With A Shovel For A Damn Good Reason
“Volcanologists collect still-molten lava to help understand how the eruption is progressing,” Dr Janine Krippner, a volcanologist at Concord University, told IFLScience. “Once you collect it (by shovel or other means) you quench or freeze the lava, often in water. This stops crystals from forming in the lava and gives you a snapshot of what the chemistry is like.”
Read the full IFLS article here.
“Volcanologists collect still-molten lava to help understand how the eruption is progressing,” Dr Janine Krippner, a volcanologist at Concord University, told IFLScience. “Once you collect it (by shovel or other means) you quench or freeze the lava, often in water. This stops crystals from forming in the lava and gives you a snapshot of what the chemistry is like.”
Read the full IFLS article here.
Volcanologists warn world is unprepared for next major eruption
A big blast could hobble global trade, communications and financial systems.
Preparing for rare but deadly eruptions is as important as dealing with smaller, more-frequent ones, says Janine Krippner, a volcanologist at Concord University in Athens, West Virginia. “Even with the lower probability of these larger events, when they do occur people will look to scientists, emergency managers, governments and other entities and expect them to be prepared,” she says. “We owe it to our communities to be researching potentially devastating eruptions, so we can guide people on what to do.”
Read the full Nature article here.
A big blast could hobble global trade, communications and financial systems.
Preparing for rare but deadly eruptions is as important as dealing with smaller, more-frequent ones, says Janine Krippner, a volcanologist at Concord University in Athens, West Virginia. “Even with the lower probability of these larger events, when they do occur people will look to scientists, emergency managers, governments and other entities and expect them to be prepared,” she says. “We owe it to our communities to be researching potentially devastating eruptions, so we can guide people on what to do.”
Read the full Nature article here.
Mount Agung: Bali volcano eruption photos explained
Some of the images coming out of Mt Agung, the volcano in Bali which could be on the brink of a major eruption, have been spectacular. But the pictures also tell the story of what is going on inside, as volcanologist Janine Krippner explains.
Over the last two months Mt Agung has seen increased seismicity. This is the increased fracturing of rocks inside the volcano as magma, a volatile mixture of molten rocks, fluids and gases, moves from deep within the earth right up to the top.
In the past week we have seen thick plumes of steam and ash being belched out, as well as lava glowing at the surface of the crater, and flowing rivers of cold mud down river valleys.
Read full BBC article here.
Some of the images coming out of Mt Agung, the volcano in Bali which could be on the brink of a major eruption, have been spectacular. But the pictures also tell the story of what is going on inside, as volcanologist Janine Krippner explains.
Over the last two months Mt Agung has seen increased seismicity. This is the increased fracturing of rocks inside the volcano as magma, a volatile mixture of molten rocks, fluids and gases, moves from deep within the earth right up to the top.
In the past week we have seen thick plumes of steam and ash being belched out, as well as lava glowing at the surface of the crater, and flowing rivers of cold mud down river valleys.
Read full BBC article here.
Mount Agung: The Kiwi volcanologist keeping a close eye on Bali volcano from the US
Much of the latest information on Bali's volatile Mount Agung is coming the long way around — from a Kiwi volcanologist watching an Indonesian mountain from Pittsburgh, US.
Dr Janine Krippner is working through the night to read, analyse and disseminate the latest information from Bali.
She reads tweets from volcano experts, monitors an online seismogram, interprets confusing graphs, and scours online sources for anything relevant.
She began watching the volcano closely at the start of this crisis, on September 22, when Indonesian authorities declared a Level IV alert for Mt Agung and ordered major evacuations. She could not find the information she needed.
"I figured people out there must be really struggling. I started getting comments out there from people saying they didn't know where to get information," she said.
"You have to use Google Translate to translate the information from Indonesian, and there are key words that are missed out in that and make it sound very different from what the situation is.
"So, using volcanology education and experience I started translating those, making sure the messages from officials are getting across to the people in Bali or the people who are about to go to Bali, who really needed it."
Read full ABC article.
Mt. Agung Update: Why is it so hard to predict a volcanic eruption?
Indonesia’s Mt. Agung may be on the cusp of its first eruption since 1963, an eruption that killed more than 1000 people. Since late August, seismic signals have increased in frequency, and last Friday, officials raised the alert status to the highest level. Local officials have evacuated around 75,000 people from the area and warned residents to keep an 8-12 kilometer distance from the volcano.
However, it’s still unclear whether—or when—the volcano may erupt, scientists stress.
Read full AGU article.
Indonesia’s Mt. Agung may be on the cusp of its first eruption since 1963, an eruption that killed more than 1000 people. Since late August, seismic signals have increased in frequency, and last Friday, officials raised the alert status to the highest level. Local officials have evacuated around 75,000 people from the area and warned residents to keep an 8-12 kilometer distance from the volcano.
However, it’s still unclear whether—or when—the volcano may erupt, scientists stress.
Read full AGU article.
NEW! Voices of Volcanology
I have founded this public outreach page after seeing the gap in volcanology outreach on Facebook. Many of us in the broader volcanology community are on Twitter and are blogging, but Facebook is usually left for our personal lives only. This public page is a place where we can reach out to the online community and where anyone can come to learn more about what we do and how/why we do it. It is a place where we can share official sources of information, provide context, and also address misinformation, which is unfortunately abundant in the online world. I hope this page can act as a reliable place to go for information, and can help the broader volcanology community (physical volcanology, petrology, geology, geochemistry, geophysics, social science, archaeology, emergency management, hazards, communications, energy & mineral resources, etc) to comfortably share what you do with a broad audience.
What If the Earth Suddenly Turned Flat?
The Earth is a round orb, almost four thousand miles in radius, orbiting a star alongside some other orbs of varying sizes. We’ve taken pictures of it. But some folks don’t believe any evidence presented to them by a government agency. Many have come to the conclusion that the Earth is actually flat.
Janine KrippnerVolcanology and Remote Sensing PhD Candidate Department of Geology and Environmental Science University of Pittsburgh
What an interesting question! One I haven’t thought of before beyond the meme that if the Earth were flat, cats would have knocked everything off by now. So here are my thoughts.
As a volcanologist, the first question that comes to mind is how would we have magma for volcanoes? I guess a flat earth would be a slab? This would mean that we wouldn’t have our sphere with increasing pressures and temperatures with depth that melts rock. Plate tectonics are the planet’s way of recycling material. Very simply—plate goes down under another plate, releases water, water rises and reduces the melting temperature of the rock, rock melts in tiny bits, tiny bits of melt rise (because they are less dense than the surrounding rock), this eventually forms a magma reservoir, which can rise and pressurize—leading to an eruption. The majority of volcanoes are produced at these tectonic boundaries, either where they move apart, or one subducts under the other. I can’t imagine how this would continue without the Earth being a sphere. So if plate tectonics stopped, and we eventually stopped having volcanoes, we lose all the precious resources that come with them—they contribute to very fertile soils around the world for one major example. If a flat Earth did manage to obtain an atmosphere, I wonder what would happen when we lose volcanoes—that have been contributing to our atmosphere (including a lot of water!) since the beginning of time on Earth.
Over millions of years, mountains would erode—there are no plate tectonics to keep them growing upwards. Think the Appalachian mountains in the eastern US—they used to be a large mountain chain which eroded, and all that material filled in a large depression which now includes states such as Pennsylvania. That is a huge amount of eroding material that has to go somewhere so lower areas around them would flatten out. Not to forget how much it would suck for there to be no more gorgeous mountains, or to have no more snowboarding and skiing, but those mountains store a lot of water in snow that feeds rivers and provides drinking water for people to live. Everything would eventually get very flat—think Illinois. I haven’t been there, but the mention of it brings people to complain about how boring it is to drive through because it is so flat. So everyone that lives on a mountain, or in a lower area around a mountain, is going to have to adapt to their home disappearing or being buried (if we can imagine that people lived to see that).
So beyond the concerns of how would we maintain a magnetic field without a moving core, how would we survive radiation without a magnetic field, and would our water just fall into space? I struggle to think how we would maintain volcanism, a global process that has occurring throughout Earth’s history. Plus, I guess I would be out of a job and that would be pretty devastating.
Read more here.
The Earth is a round orb, almost four thousand miles in radius, orbiting a star alongside some other orbs of varying sizes. We’ve taken pictures of it. But some folks don’t believe any evidence presented to them by a government agency. Many have come to the conclusion that the Earth is actually flat.
Janine KrippnerVolcanology and Remote Sensing PhD Candidate Department of Geology and Environmental Science University of Pittsburgh
What an interesting question! One I haven’t thought of before beyond the meme that if the Earth were flat, cats would have knocked everything off by now. So here are my thoughts.
As a volcanologist, the first question that comes to mind is how would we have magma for volcanoes? I guess a flat earth would be a slab? This would mean that we wouldn’t have our sphere with increasing pressures and temperatures with depth that melts rock. Plate tectonics are the planet’s way of recycling material. Very simply—plate goes down under another plate, releases water, water rises and reduces the melting temperature of the rock, rock melts in tiny bits, tiny bits of melt rise (because they are less dense than the surrounding rock), this eventually forms a magma reservoir, which can rise and pressurize—leading to an eruption. The majority of volcanoes are produced at these tectonic boundaries, either where they move apart, or one subducts under the other. I can’t imagine how this would continue without the Earth being a sphere. So if plate tectonics stopped, and we eventually stopped having volcanoes, we lose all the precious resources that come with them—they contribute to very fertile soils around the world for one major example. If a flat Earth did manage to obtain an atmosphere, I wonder what would happen when we lose volcanoes—that have been contributing to our atmosphere (including a lot of water!) since the beginning of time on Earth.
Over millions of years, mountains would erode—there are no plate tectonics to keep them growing upwards. Think the Appalachian mountains in the eastern US—they used to be a large mountain chain which eroded, and all that material filled in a large depression which now includes states such as Pennsylvania. That is a huge amount of eroding material that has to go somewhere so lower areas around them would flatten out. Not to forget how much it would suck for there to be no more gorgeous mountains, or to have no more snowboarding and skiing, but those mountains store a lot of water in snow that feeds rivers and provides drinking water for people to live. Everything would eventually get very flat—think Illinois. I haven’t been there, but the mention of it brings people to complain about how boring it is to drive through because it is so flat. So everyone that lives on a mountain, or in a lower area around a mountain, is going to have to adapt to their home disappearing or being buried (if we can imagine that people lived to see that).
So beyond the concerns of how would we maintain a magnetic field without a moving core, how would we survive radiation without a magnetic field, and would our water just fall into space? I struggle to think how we would maintain volcanism, a global process that has occurring throughout Earth’s history. Plus, I guess I would be out of a job and that would be pretty devastating.
Read more here.
Dreaming BIG with STEM: Chasing volcanoes
I was honored to be asked to give the opening talk at the 2017 Cumberland Valley ESTEEM event, an event that hosted 320 girls for a whole day of science. This event was about 'believing that they can be anything, and anyone, they want to be!' and dreaming, through a day of science and mentoring from over 70 volunteers.
I was asked to talk at 8:30 am on May 18, the time and date (albeit the wrong time zone and 2 minutes early) of the Mount St. Helens 1980 eruption. The most influential eruption of my life that occurred 6 years before I was born, and that I dreamed of studying since I was a young girl.
I gave them some of my most important lessons I have learned along my journey:
And shared my advice for being a scientist:
I told them these personal lessons through illustrating my journey from a girl who loved volcanoes and didn't think it was actually something I could do, to realizing I could study volcanoes for the rest of my life and dreaming of studying Mount St. Helens (which I believed was impossible), to being less than two months away from finishing my Ph.D. and working on the Mount St. Helens May 18, 1980 eruption.
If a girl from Te Awamutu, New Zealand, can move to the USA and do what I dreamed to do 18 years ago, and funded by NASA, you can do anything.
xo
I was honored to be asked to give the opening talk at the 2017 Cumberland Valley ESTEEM event, an event that hosted 320 girls for a whole day of science. This event was about 'believing that they can be anything, and anyone, they want to be!' and dreaming, through a day of science and mentoring from over 70 volunteers.
I was asked to talk at 8:30 am on May 18, the time and date (albeit the wrong time zone and 2 minutes early) of the Mount St. Helens 1980 eruption. The most influential eruption of my life that occurred 6 years before I was born, and that I dreamed of studying since I was a young girl.
I gave them some of my most important lessons I have learned along my journey:
- Follow your heart (what excites you? Where do you want to make a difference? Follow that!)
- You are the leading lady in your own life (you decide who and what you want to be)
- Unexpected lessons (you never know what lessons and skills will help you later)
- Connecting the dots (solving problems is like connecting the dots. Dots are bits of wisdom and knowledge we pick up along the way)
- Believe in yourself (Seriously, this is so important! Be your own cheerleader)
- You are powerful (You have incredible power to make a positive difference)
And shared my advice for being a scientist:
- Don’t give up – you can be what ever you want to be
- Do what excites you – follow your passion
- Be ok with being wrong
- Be open minded
- Be ok with changing your mind with new information
- Have a great imagination
- Listen to other ideas and opinions
- Be kind, include everyone
- Say yes to opportunities
- Ask questions
- Have fun!
I told them these personal lessons through illustrating my journey from a girl who loved volcanoes and didn't think it was actually something I could do, to realizing I could study volcanoes for the rest of my life and dreaming of studying Mount St. Helens (which I believed was impossible), to being less than two months away from finishing my Ph.D. and working on the Mount St. Helens May 18, 1980 eruption.
If a girl from Te Awamutu, New Zealand, can move to the USA and do what I dreamed to do 18 years ago, and funded by NASA, you can do anything.
xo
Finding strength through a love of volcanoes
No matter who you are, no matter who inspires you, no matter who you consider to be successful - we have all overcome challenges and continue to every day. I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about how I can contribute to helping people around the world. With the blog post 'It's all for you, girl! A message to girls everywhere from the women in volcanology' I wanted to show kids, girls especially, that they can follow their dreams. Since then I have been looking towards people that have it much harder than I do - minorities and people with health concerns that make it that much harder to get ahead. I was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome when I was 20 years old, after years of people believing I was making up the chronic pain I live with. As a newly defined 'invisible illness' it was a struggle to figure out what I had, and when I did I read everything I possibly could about it, then I looked forward and didn't read about it again. I figured out how to keep my body strong so that my tendons wouldn't tear and I deal with the pain. For me it is about knowing my limits, taking care of my body, and keeping a bloody good attitude. I have kept it off social media and I have kept it out of my career mostly because I refuse to be defined by it and let it affect how I live, but partially because I was afraid that it would hurt my career. I don't have a job lined up at the point of writing this, so why the change? How can I embrace publicly giving messages of empowerment if I do not show how I became empowered? How can I give hope to those who have similar issues they deal with, if they do not know this side of me? This is a small part of my story, some of the challenges I have faced and what I would tell my younger self as I was facing them. Blog Post: Finding strength through a love of volcanoes |
Note: I realize that so many people suffer awful illnesses and this is in no way saying that people need an attitude adjustment or should be able to live with it differently. I am very grateful that I do not have anything more severe. My love goes out to all of you xox |
It's all for you, girl! A message to girls everywhere from the women in volcanology
It saddened me to see a new study published a couple of weeks ago that tells us girls from the age of six are prone to thinking that they are not as smart as boys. What is even more sad is that this wasn't really a surprise. You only have to look at how the media portrays women to get an idea why.
When I was a little girl my Mum told me that I could be anything I want to be. I believed her and I am passing this message on to you. I know some of you have it much harder than others, harder than I could have imagined as a little girl. Don't give up and follow your dreams.
I have asked women volcanologists from around the world to tell you what they do, why they love their work, how their work makes a difference in the world, and to give advice for girls everywhere. Of course this advice is not limited to girls, boys are also subject to messages that they are not good enough, and this can be much worse depending on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and all of the wonderful things that make us unique.
This is a message from women volcanologists from around the world to all of those girls and to everyone who has ever been told they couldn't do something they dreamed of. You are strong. You are amazing. You are powerful. Believe in yourself and don't let anyone make you think that you are not good enough. We have your back and we welcome you in the geosciences!
Over 40 women in volcanology have responded, read about them here.
When I was a little girl my Mum told me that I could be anything I want to be. I believed her and I am passing this message on to you. I know some of you have it much harder than others, harder than I could have imagined as a little girl. Don't give up and follow your dreams.
I have asked women volcanologists from around the world to tell you what they do, why they love their work, how their work makes a difference in the world, and to give advice for girls everywhere. Of course this advice is not limited to girls, boys are also subject to messages that they are not good enough, and this can be much worse depending on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and all of the wonderful things that make us unique.
This is a message from women volcanologists from around the world to all of those girls and to everyone who has ever been told they couldn't do something they dreamed of. You are strong. You are amazing. You are powerful. Believe in yourself and don't let anyone make you think that you are not good enough. We have your back and we welcome you in the geosciences!
Over 40 women in volcanology have responded, read about them here.
Girls into Geosciences
Girls into Geosciences is a great resource that gives girls a taste of what they can do if they are interested into (in my opinion) one of the best careers out there! They also run a one day workshop 'designed to introduce female A-level students to the Earth Sciences. Throughout the day we have seminars and workshops from women working in the Geosciences, from different areas of research and industry.'
Check out my Girls into Geosciences profile here.
Check out my Girls into Geosciences profile here.
Volcanology Teaching Resources
I was excited to chat with a fantastic group of 6th graders to talk about all things volcanoes - why they erupt, why some erupt more violently than others, what their hazards are, and what we, as volcanologists, are doing to try and help people that live near them. So I sent out a request to the world of Twitter and volcanologists (links to their twitter feeds included, also full of information and resources - many more twitter volcanologists can be found) from around the world got back to me with great ideas and resources, and here they are!
This is an open blog, I will add more resources as they come to my attention, so if there is something missing please contact me and I will add it for everyone to enjoy.
Find a long list of activities and resources here.
This is an open blog, I will add more resources as they come to my attention, so if there is something missing please contact me and I will add it for everyone to enjoy.
Find a long list of activities and resources here.
Spectacular volcano videos: Identifying eruption processes
We are lucky that so many people post amazing videos of volcanic eruptions online for all of us to enjoy (see below warning), and we can learn a lot from them too. When I am looking at my satellite images of dome collapse block and ash flow and column collapse pyroclastic flow deposits on Shiveluch and Mount St. Helens volcanoes I have videos of these processes running through my mind. This is a short guide to what you are seeing in these incredible videos.
WARNING: There are very dangerous and life threatening hazards associated with retrieving this footage, and here at In the Company of Volcanoes we strongly discourage anyone from trying to take your own.
For a list of videos that show a range of volcanic processes, like the one below, go here.
WARNING: There are very dangerous and life threatening hazards associated with retrieving this footage, and here at In the Company of Volcanoes we strongly discourage anyone from trying to take your own.
For a list of videos that show a range of volcanic processes, like the one below, go here.