This week
Geol9 is exploring the volcanic hazards in different countries and their
warning systems. I’ll be focusing on the US.
There are several ways we
minimize the danger of volcanic activity (apart from the obvious of ‘getting
out of the way’…(J:
·
Forecasting (earthquakes as early warnings -although in 2014 a Japanese
volcano erupted without any previous seismicity (livescience
article), land swelling before eruption, gas emissions, etc.)
·
Volcanic Alert Codes (USGS): the levels of alert and the aviation
code levels commonly change at the same time (chart on right). A non-erupting
volcano will have a green icon, and a red one indicates an imminent eruption
(see USGS Alert
Codes).
Today the US hazards map shows 4
volcanoes as to be above normal background (elevated unrest):
Cleveland and Mauna Loa Alert Level=ADVISORY. Aviation Color Code=Yellow.
Semisopochnoi and Shishaldin Alert
Level=WATCH. Aviation Color Code=Orange.
