Scientists have learned to predict powerful volcanic eruptions - of Korrespondent.net

Icelandic volcano emissions in May 2011, 20-kilometer jet ash may researchers presented another means of predicting future eruptions.

Grimsvotn volcano before the eruption shifted ground on two feet / Björn Oddsson

An hour before the eruption of the volcano Grimsvotn GPS-sensor mounted on its slope, said that the earth moves. Data immediately transferred volcanologists, told not only about the inevitability of the eruption, but also about its likely extent, as reported by geophysicist Sigrun Hreynsdottir of the University of Iceland and her colleagues.

Knowing that the eruption is about to happen, will help emergency services prepare for cataclysm: block roads, evacuate the next village. And the information about how to reach the height of ash emissions tell airlines whether to redirect flights and closed airports. Grimsvotn eruption in 2011 was the largest volcanic event in Iceland for almost one hundred years. Because of him, in some parts of the UK aircraft could not take off. And the year before that airlines were not counted million euros because of another Icelandic roughneck called Eyyafyadlayyokudl.

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Grimsvotn – the most active volcano on today in Iceland, but it is difficult to follow him because he was hiding under a huge ice sheet. Icelandic Group has established a scientific Hreynsdottir GPS-station on one of the rare rock outcrops, which is not allowed to freeze by supplying geothermal heat. Before the eruption of the sensor registers a shift of land more than half a meter.

Using the equations describing the physical characteristics of the underground magma chamber, scientists have transformed GPS-performance data on the change in pressure in the chamber, which in turn is closely linked to altitude ash jet. “Pour water into a ball and how to squeeze it – the height of the water jet will be correlated with the strength of compression – explains Ms. Hreynsdottir. – It is very simple, but so far we have not been able to demonstrate this on the example of a volcano. ”

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Seismic instruments are able to detect impending cataclysm, since immediately before it is fast and strong earthquakes. But the GPS-data can indicate the extent of the future elements revelry.

The findings particularly useful for monitoring volcanoes in remote places – for example, in the Aleutian Islands. Now pilots crossing the northern part of the Pacific Ocean, have to rely on a webcam, not to fall into the ash cloud.

only problem is to set the desired GPS-equipment. Geophysicist Paul Segall of Stanford University (USA) explains, in this case requires a special type of plant, which is more expensive than usual. In addition, the will to improve the transmission of real-time data, which is also difficult, especially in the current crisis: many volcanological posts lately have been denied funding.

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By the way, look at the top 10 most dangerous volcanoes in the world: