-Caveat Lector- Want to send this story to another AOL member? Click on the heart at the top of this window. Scientists study threat of huge volcanic eruptions SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Scientists said on Friday they were stepping up research into the global threat posed by massive volcanic eruptions -- devastating and inevitable explosions of magma, ash and gas that promise to have severe and lasting impact on the world's climate. "The risk of volcanic eruptions to human populations is not very well defined," William Rose, a geologist at Michigan Technological University, told a news briefing at the American Geophysical Union. "But the probability of very large eruptions is probably significantly higher than that of meteor impact." At a symposium held at the AGU meeting, volcanologists, atmospheric scientists and other specialists have launched an effort to begin modeling the impact of severe volcanic eruptions, which potentially could be many times larger than the worst experienced in recorded human history. The most powerful recent eruption, Philippine volcano Mt Pinatubo, exploded with astonishing force in 1991 killing 800 people and forcing thousands to evacuate. Pinatubo blasted rock and dust 12 miles (20 km) into the atmosphere -- leading to measurable changes in world weather patterns. Other volcanoes have been even more destructive. Tambora, in Indonesia, blew its top in 1815, killing more than 90,000 people and venting so much material into the atmosphere that Europe effectively lost its summer growing season. And historical records indicate that earlier eruptions were many times more powerful than that. Hans Graf of the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology in Hamburg, Germany, said a drive was underway to establish a clearer understanding of the effects of volcanic explosion on the atmosphere, which range from venting huge amounts of ozone-damaging chlorine and bromine compounds to filling the skies with aerosol droplets that can absorb solar heat. "This leads to dynamic consequences, like the warming of continents," Graf said. While researchers are only beginning to understand the potential lasting impact of volcanic explosions, scientists are growing more confident of their ability to forecast the deadly explosions more accurately. "It's not so much that we expect one technical breakthrough ... there's a confluence of a lot of things going on that should improve our ability to make predictions in the next 10 years," Stanford University geophysicist Paul Segall said. Volcanologists say the increasing use of satellites to monitor volcanic activity on Earth will help to refine measurements indicating the build-up of magma -- often the precursor to a volcanic eruption. This satellite observation system, which scientists say may develop into a permanent volcano early warning system covering some 600 potentially active volcanoes around the world, will help deliver earlier and more precise notice of volcanic activity -- like the warning delivered before Pinatubo, which enabled the safe evacuation of tens of thousands of residents. "Unlike earthquake prediction, we can actually do something about volcanoes," Segall said. 21:01 12-15-00 Copyright 2000 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
