Research Shows Rise in Volcano Dangers

Zach Pettepier

Source: USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/environment/story/2012-02-01/deadly-us-volcanoes/52923094/1

Date: February 1st, 2012

Summary: Advanced researched has helped scientists in having a better idea of when eruptions are going to occur. They know that under the beautiful sites of Yellowstone National Park and Death Valley are magma pools. If the right conditions present themselves, massive explosions could occur. Scientists found that a volcano in Death Valley, that is believed to have erupted 800 years ago, is still an eruption danger. They also discovered that large caldera volcanoes can recharge in a few decades as opposed to the believed thousands of years. Scientists are monitoring caldera volcanoes, such as those in Oregon, a lot more closely. Scientists also studied a crater in Death Valley called the Ubehebe Crater. It was believed to have been caused by a volcanic eruption some 10,000 years ago but scientists have recently studied the beryllium in the rocks, finding that it erupted only 700 years ago. According to Brent Goehring, “The relatively recent eruption means that the magma underground, which can take thousands of years to cool, is likely still hot” (Weise). Another worry possessed by scientists is that caldera volcanoes may be able to blow much more quickly than previously thought to.

My opinion: This is a very interesting. It is cool that scientists have discovered some of this information through studying rocks and such. Hopefully this information is accurate though. Although deaths are imminent with the erupting of volcanoes, a lot of lives can be saved with advanced knowledge of the activity of these caldera volcanoes and still hot magma underground. It is crazy to think that we have absolutely no control of this.

As for geography, I find it very interesting that these scientists have all of this new knowledge. The potentially active, volcanic areas mentioned in this text...