Volcanic disaster

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A volcanic disaster is a very strong volcanic eruption , i. A. VEI 4-5 and stronger, which has a significant influence on the world climate and the life of the people in the vicinity of the volcano .

Well-known examples in chronological order

Pinatubo eruption column in 1991

Eyjafjallajökull 2010

The eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in April 2010 was not actually a very significant eruption in terms of the amount of material ejected, but it was in terms of its impact on the economy in Europe. On April 15, the Icelandic glacier volcano ejected an ash cloud 11 km above the skies of Europe and caused unprecedented disruption to air traffic for about a week. Eurocontrol stated that on April 15, a quarter of the roughly 28,000 flight connections every day failed. People were not harmed by this natural event.

Soufrière 1997

On June 25, 1997, avalanches of the Soufrière volcano on the Caribbean island of Montserrat destroyed several villages, 17 people died and 20 were missing. In the weeks that followed, the capital Plymouth and the airport were devastated by embers and mudslides. Two thirds of the island became uninhabitable.

Pinatubo 1991

Pinatubo , 1991, Philippines , worst outbreak of 20th century, 1,000 deaths; Scientists had correctly interpreted the signs of an impending outbreak, and over 10,000 people were evacuated in time.

Nevado del Ruiz 1985

On November 13, 1985, a mudslide in connection with an eruption of the Colombian volcano Nevado del Ruiz killed more than 25,000 residents in the city of Armero, 70 km away . Similar eruptions had occurred in 1845 and 1595.

El Chichón 1982

The only recorded eruption of the El Chichón volcano in Mexico occurred in 1982. Around 2,000 people were killed in a Plinian eruption . An aerosol cloud formed, which caused the temperature of the atmosphere to drop by at least 0.2 ° C.

Mount St. Helens 1980

In March 1980, a series of eruptions began at Mount St. Helens in the USA after a break of 123 years. There were always earthquakes and smaller steam eruptions, and over the months rising magma built up a lava dome on the north flank. On May 18 at 8:32 a.m., a strong earthquake caused by magma pressure caused a flank slide on the north side and at the same time the accumulated magma was released. The north flank and 400 meters of the summit were blown away. In an area of ​​400 square kilometers, practically all of the flora and fauna were destroyed. It is estimated that the volcano has an energy of about 24 megatons (TNT equivalent) - i.e. H. 1,600 times the Hiroshima atomic bomb  - released. 57 people died in the outbreak.

Nyiragongo 1977

Nyiragongo , which is considered harmless , broke out surprisingly after several decades of calm and killed numerous people through lahars and extremely fast-flowing lava flows. With renewed eruptions in 2002, the volcano destroyed some villages and parts of the city of Goma and claimed 147 lives.

Eldfell 1973

Eldfell , 1973, February 23 - On the Icelandic island of Heimaey , a new volcano, which was called Eldfell, surprisingly emerged from February 23 in eruptions lasting months. The approximately 4000 inhabitants of the city of the same name were able to save themselves, but the city itself, which was only up to 400 m away from the eruption site, was largely destroyed.

Agung 1963

When the Agung erupted on the Indonesian island of Bali in 1963, 1,148 people died and 624 were injured. In addition, 540 km² of agricultural area, 185 km² of forest and many villages were destroyed.

Kelud 1919

When the Kelud erupted on Java in 1919, a crater lake emptied. 5,110 people died in the lahars .

Mont Pelé 1902

On May 8, 1902, Mont Pelé erupted on the Caribbean island of Martinique . As a result of the glowing clouds produced by this eruption , 28,000 people died and the city of Saint-Pierre was destroyed.

Krakatau 1883

During the eruption on August 26 and 27, 1883, two thirds of the volcanic island of Krakatau was blown away. Officially there were 36,417 deaths, mainly as a result of the tidal waves up to 40 m high . It was one of the most momentous volcanic eruptions in history, and the atmospheric shock waves from the explosion were recorded worldwide. The ash clouds triggered a volcanic winter , and the temperature on the earth's surface dropped noticeably over the next two years.

Fonualei 1846

The eruption of Fonualei in the north of the Pacific island state of Tonga in 1846 led to climate changes with cold summers in all of Central Europe. Snow fell in the Westerwald in August. The consequences of the famine in the next winter were the trigger for Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen's first auxiliary work for the needy.

Tambora 1815

The eruption of Tambora on Sumbawa ( Indonesia ) on April 10 - April 15, 1815 resulted in 12,000 deaths, another 50,000 to 80,000 died from the subsequent earthquakes and tidal waves as well as the ash rain on Lombok . It is considered the largest volcanic eruption in the last 10,000 years. The eruption had a magnitude of seven on the Volcanic Explosive Index (VEI). The introduction of large amounts of ash into the atmosphere weakened solar radiation so that the year 1816 went down in history as the year without a summer in North America and parts of Europe.

1809 eruption

On the basis of maxima in the sulphate content of ice cores , the outbreak of an unknown, verorteten in tropical latitudes volcano has been postulated for the year 1809, which must have reached at least VEI 6th This is said to be responsible for the cool climate in the early 1810s, even before the well-documented Tambora eruption (see above ). Lore by contemporary South American scientists suggests that this eruption actually occurred as early as the end of 1808.

Laki 1783-84

The 25 km long volcanic fissure of the Lakikrater (more than a hundred craters in total) on Iceland formed in June 1783 - March 1784: one of the largest eruptions in history. A lava volume of at least 12 km³ escaped from the craters, which was distributed over an area of ​​565 km². The ashes ( fluorine precipitation) poisoned the pastures all over the island; the sulfur aerosols shielded the earth from sunlight, caused a volcanic winter and thus caused crop failures across Europe. In the next three years, more than 1/5 of the island's population died of hunger and disease.

Etna 1669

In 1669, Mount Etna produced one of its most serious eruptions. The city of Catania was destroyed and around 20,000 people died.

Parker 1641

In January 1641, the Parker erupted on the island of Mindanao , Philippines , so large that the island was shrouded in darkness for weeks. Deposits of the corresponding ash rain could still be detected on the island of Panay, almost 600 km away .

Vesuvius 1631

The eruption of Vesuvius on December 16, 1631 resulted in around 4,000 deaths. Around 80 villages were damaged.

Kuwae 1452 or 1453

The eruption of the Kuwae , which is part of Vanuatu in the South Pacific, in 1452 or 1453 had global effects on the climate.

Eldgjá 934 or 939

It is a nearly 75 km long volcanic fissure in Iceland that belongs to the Katla volcanic system . The central part of this system of fissures is an 8 km long and 150 m deep gorge, which was later called Eldgjá . The volcanic fissure probably erupted in the years 934–40, according to more recent work 939–949, and created one of the largest known lava fields in the world (with a lava volume of around 18.1 km³). The series of eruptions also had explosive phases and pumped a total of 219 million tons of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere. In comparison to this, the Pinatubo in 1991 was only a minor event with its 10 million tons. On the other hand, the Eldgjá eruption dragged on for years, so that the emission effect could be distributed.

Vesuvius 79 AD

One of the most famous volcanic eruptions in the world is undoubtedly that of Vesuvius on August 24th, 79 AD. It was the eponymous Plinian eruption, which reached level VEI5 on the volcanic explosion index .

It ended with the destruction of the cities of Pompeii , Stabiae and others. Herculaneum , especially through glowing clouds and pyroclastic currents . Thousands of people died in the process. One of them was Pliny the Elder , the uncle of the surviving reporter Pliny the Younger .

Santorini 1628 BC Chr. (?)

A very significant volcanic eruption probably occurred in 1628 BC. On the island of Santorin , which belongs to Greece. The number of fatalities at the time is unknown, the residents of the city of Akrotiri may have been able to leave the island in time. However, it is assumed indirectly (ash rain, possibly tidal wave) strong effects on large parts of the Aegean region . The long-term consequences of the eruption could have been a reason for the demise of the Minoan culture .

Laacher See approx. 10,930 BC Chr.

Around the year 10,930 BC. During three days around 16 km³ of volcanic ash and pumice were thrown out during an eruption in the Vulkaneifel , creating the caldera of the Laacher See . The finer deposits of the explosion can still be found as far as Sweden as a narrow pumice horizon (known as Laacher-See-Tephra, LST ), 20 km away as a 2 m thick deposit.

Taupo approx. 24,500 BC Chr.

The Oruanui eruption in the Taupo Volcanic Zone on the North Island of New Zealand is considered the last super eruption (26,500 years ago). The ejected material had a circumference of 1,170 km³.

Phlegraean Fields around 37,280 BC. Chr.

During this supermassive eruption, about 80 to 150 km³ of tephra were ejected, which corresponds to a volcanic explosion index of 7. See also Phlegraean Fields .

Toba approx. 74,000 BC Chr.

During the eruption of Toba on Sumatra , around 74,000 BC. Chr., 2,800 cubic kilometers of material were thrown into the air. The earth's temperature was lowered by 5 degrees in the volcanic winter . The Homo sapiens died - a theory of Stanley Ambrose, Univ. of Illinois, according to - almost out (see Toba Disaster Theory ).

Yellowstone volcano 630,000 BC Chr.

At Yellowstone (Volcano) , large outbreaks their immediate environment before 2.1 million (occurred in today's National Park or Huckleberry Ridge eruption ), 1.3 million ( Mesa-Falls outbreak ) and 0.64 million years ( Lava Creek Outbreak ). The former is one of the largest ever known eruptions on earth with an ejection of 2,450 km³ of materials.

La Garita Caldera 27.8 million years ago

The eruption of the La Garita Caldera (VEI-8) in Colorado around 27.8 million years ago is one of the most significant known volcanic eruptions. The volcano ejected 5,000 cubic kilometers of tephra , which today form the Fish Canyon tuff.

Forecasting methods

In the meantime, science has found numerous methods to make the prediction of volcanic eruptions more accurate.

In addition to measuring earthquakes , which also include the very low frequency, i.e. H. If the so-called volcanic tremor is recorded, geodesy is used , measurements that determine the expansion of the volcano. GPS systems and satellite observation are now also used for this purpose .

But satellites are also used for observation and for early warning of signs of eruptions from very remote volcanoes such as on the Aleutian Islands or the Kamchatka Peninsula .

Geologists also observe the number and behavior of hot springs that belong to the volcano. If their number and size increase, it could be a sign of an impending outbreak.

Finally, the chemical composition of outgassing , but also that of all bodies of water around the volcano in question, is monitored for the occurrence and amount of certain gases such as carbon dioxide , fluorine and sulfur dioxide . The electrical conductivity of water bodies is also checked, as increased conductivity can indicate increased volcanic activity in the area.

The evaluation and synopsis of such data gives an ever more accurate picture of the current state of a volcano.

Of particular importance for the prevention of volcanic disasters, however, are the education of the population and good cooperation between the scientists and the local authorities.

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Soufrière Hills in the Global Volcanism Program of the Smithsonian Institution (English). Retrieved September 13, 2017
  2. ↑ cf. z. BH-U. Schmincke: volcanism. Darmstadt 2000, p. 214 ff.
  3. ↑ cf. H.-U. Schmincke, volcanism. Darmstadt 2000, p. 213 f.
  4. ↑ Alan Robock: Volcanic Eruption, El Chich'on (PDF; 28 kB)
  5. ↑ cf. Mount St. Helens eruption in 1980
  6. ^ Nyiragongo in the Global Volcanism Program of the Smithsonian Institution (English). Retrieved September 13, 2017
  7. ↑ cf. Ferðafélag Íslands. Árbók 2009. Vestmannaeyjar . Ed. G. Á. Eyjólfsson. P. 162 ff. (Icelandic)
  8. ^ Agung in The Significant Volcanic Eruption Database of NOAA (accessed February 7, 2013).
  9. ↑ MT Zen, Djajadi Hadikusumo: Preliminary report on the 1963 eruption of Mt Agung in Bali (Indonesia). In: Bulletin Volcanologique , 27 (1964) pp. 269-299, here p. 286.
  10. ↑ Kelut in the Global Volcanism Program of the Smithsonian Institution (English). Retrieved September 13, 2017
  11. ↑ 8 May 1902, la catastrophe de la montagne Pelée. In: histoire du belem. 3mats.net, accessed on September 13, 2017 (French).
  12. ↑ Anak Krakatau spits lava and gas. In: Spiegel Online. November 8, 2007, accessed September 13, 2017 .
  13. ↑ Angelika Humann: People who moved the world a series of lectures in the house of the foundation . Ed .: Dr.-Ing.-Hans-Joachim-Lenz-Foundation. 1st edition Mainz 2012, ISBN 978-3-938088-29-6 , p. 140 .
  14. ^ C. Oppenheimer: Climatic, environmental and human consequences of the largest known historic eruption. (PDF, 1.2 MB) (No longer available online.) In: Progress in Physical Geography. Pp. 230–259 , formerly in the original ; Retrieved November 7, 2010 .  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / content.ebscohost.com
  15. Jump up ↑ A. Guevara-Murua, CA Williams, EJ Hendy, AC Rust, KV Cashman: Observations of a stratospheric aerosol veil from a tropical volcanic eruption in December 1808: is this the Unknown ∼1809 eruption? In: Clim. Past . tape 10 , no. 5 , September 16, 2014, ISSN  1814-9332 , p. 1707–1722 , doi : 10.5194 / cp-10-1707-2014 ( clim-past.net [accessed September 13, 2017]).
  16. ↑ Thor Thordarsson, Armann Hoskuldsson: Iceland. Classic Geology in Europe 3. Harpenden 2002, p. 111 ff.
  17. ↑ Etna eruption - Europe's largest volcano FAZ-NET, November 7, 2010 Accessed: November 7, 2010
  18. ↑ Francisco G. Delfin, Jr, Christopher G. Newhal, Mylene L. Martinez, Noel D. Salonga, Francis Edward B. Bayon, Deborah Trimble, Rene Solidun: Geological, 14 C, and historical evidence for a 17th century eruption of Parker Volcano, Mindanao, Philippines. Journal of the Geological Society of the Philippines. Vol. 52, No. 1, 1997, pp. 25-42 ( ResearchGate )
  19. ↑ Vulcan Institute on Vesuvius (English) Access: November 7, 2010
  20. ↑ See the research results of the American scientist Pang on the investigation of annual rings on trees ( Memento of the original from December 14, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Accessed November 7, 2010 @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.jpl.nasa.gov
  21. ↑ Clive Oppenheimer et al. a .: The Eldgjá eruption: timing, long-range impacts and influence on the Christianization of Iceland . In: Climatic Change . March 2018, doi : 10.1007 / s10584-018-2171-9 (Open Access).
  22. ↑ Thor Thordarsson, Armann Hoskuldsson: Iceland. Classic Geology in Europe 3. Harpenden 2002, p. 109ff.
  23. ↑ ( Page no longer available , search in web archives: For the development of the volcano, see volcano monitoring Santorini, accessed: November 6, 2010 )@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.santorini.net
  24. ^ Santorini in the Global Volcanism Program of the Smithsonian Institution (English). Retrieved September 14, 2017
  25. ^ Thomas Litt, Karl-Ernst Behre, Klaus-Dieter Meyer, Hans-Jürgen Stephan and Stefan Wansa: Ice Age and the Present . Stratigraphic terms for the Quaternary of the northern German glaciation area. In: Quaternary Science Journal . No. 56 (1/2) , 2007, ISSN  0424-7116 , p. 7-65 , doi : 10.3285 / eg.56.1-2.02 ( publiss.net ). Ice Age and the Present ( Memento of the original from February 5, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / quaternary-science.publiss.net
  26. ↑ DIPLOMA THESIS “Gravimetric investigations on the southern edge of the Laacher See to dissolve the subsurface structure in the edge area of ​​the volcano” ( Memento from June 16, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Diploma thesis by Claudia Köhler 2005
  27. ↑ Calvin F. Miller, David A. Wark: Supervolcanoes and their Explosive Supereruptions . In: Elements . tape 4 , no. 1 , February 1, 2008, ISSN  1811-5209 , p. 11–15 , doi : 10.2113 / gselements.4.1.11 ( geoscienceworld.org [accessed September 13, 2017]). Colin JN Wilson: Supereruptions and Supervolcanoes: Processes and Products . In: Elements . tape
     4 , no. 1 , February 1, 2008, ISSN  1811-5209 , p. 29–34 , doi : 10.2113 / gselements.4.1.29 ( geoscienceworld.org [accessed September 13, 2017]).
  28. ^ Taupo in the Global Volcanism Program of the Smithsonian Institution (English). Retrieved September 14, 2017
  29. ↑ The greatest crisis of mankind . In: sueddeutsche.de . 2010, ISSN  0174-4917 ( sueddeutsche.de [accessed on September 13, 2017]).
  30. ↑ Stromboli online: Yellowstone Caldera (accessed November 6, 2010)
  31. ↑ Largest explosive eruptions: New results for the 27.8 Ma Fish Canyon Tuff and the La Garita caldera, San Juan volcanic field, Colorado. In: staff.aist.go.jp. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011 ; accessed on September 14, 2017 (English).
  32. ↑ Marc Szeglat: Volcano observation - monitoring and prediction of volcanic eruptions. In: vulkane.net. Retrieved September 13, 2017 .
  33. ↑ cf. z. B. Schmincke, ibid., P. 200 ff.