Rick Monteverde wrote:
Instead we cripple ourselves and spend what may be the last of our economic cred in the world on monitoring volcanoes and such. Got proof the monitoring we now have is inadequate to inform for public safety? Of course you don't. It isn't.
Rick, this is nonsense. Your larger points may be right, but this particular example is completely off base.
Volcano experts say the equipment we now have has not been updated in 8 to 16 years and it is falling to pieces. Okay, maybe they are lying, but if they are telling the truth, we have a serious problem. It is as if our last weather forecasting satellites were about to go out of service from old age -- which was the situation not long ago.
Volcano monitoring is a vital day-to-day service, like weather forecasting. For anyone living within 50 km of an active volcano there is no question it informs public safety!
Volcano monitoring is not done to predict gigantic eruptions in the distant future. It is not done to prevent hypothetical damage in the future. It is not an untested, propeller-head project that may or may not predict eruptions. It works, and it is done to prevent damage. Typical volcano eruptions affect only a few thousand acres at a time, or a few dozen people. A gigantic eruption is easy to monitor -- you can't miss it! The small eruptions produce a gas leak or ash that destroy a village or town, or cause lung disease. The ash shortens the life of auto engines or a passing jet airplane engine because the weather blows the ash cloud where it is not expected. This is a daily occurrence in Japan. I do not follow volcano news in the U.S., but as I said, there are lots of volcanos in Japan and the Japanese meteorological agency issues volcano warnings and predictions routinely. It is regular feature of the 7:00 o'clock news.
Ash often falls in cities far from the volcano. I've seen it; it looks like snow. If people don't cover up cars, sweep the stuff away, and clean equipment filters, it costs millions, although the cost it is spread out far and wide, like the cost of pollution. Breathe in too much ash and your lungs will be filled with concrete.
- Jed
