Reducing the Effects of

Volcanoes

500 million people live

in the danger zone

A volcanic eruption cannot be

prevented, but it can be monitored

Describe in detail 2 methods of

monitoring volcanoes.

Method 1: A tilt meter can identify…

Laser ranging

Tilt meter

Seismic activity

SO2 gas release

Temperature change

Examine the actions

taken at each

volcano – Mt Merapi

and Mt Etna.

What was done to

reduce the effects of

each volcano?

How are the

actions different?

Developed vs Developing

Strategies considered...

• Restricting access to the area:

Montserrat in the south of the island.

• Evacuation: Movement of 17,000 people

away from a place of danger to a place

of safety e.g. Mt Merapi, Indonesia.

• Reducing the effects of the eruption:

Mt Etna, bulldozers building rock walls to

divert lava away from villages. Dropping

water to cool the lava, slowing it down.

Mount Merapi (Indonesia)

Hazard map for Mount Merapi (Indonesia)

Reducing the effects

1. Evacuation

2. Ash-proof roofs

3. Information/guidance

4. Hazard maps

5. Lava spraying

6. Lava diversions

Explain how

each of these

could be

useful and

help reduce

the effects of

a volcano.

Write a

minimum of a

sentence for

each and

provide a case

study if you

can.

Which is the best route to divert the lava?

Opinion line

Volcanoes Earthquakes

• Which is harder – reducing the effect

of earthquakes or volcanoes?

• Come to the front of the class and

write your name on the line where your

opinion lies