A team of volcanologists warns of the risk of a large-scale eruption – Uppers – Uppers

A team of volcanologists has warned of the danger in the coming decades in the face of massive eruptions”The probability of large-scale volcanic eruptions occurring during the next century is hundreds of times greater than that of recorded asteroid impacts”If eruptions occur on a large scale, they would have a direct impact on our lives, environment and economy The volcanic risk is closer than we think. We saw it almost a year ago, when the La Palma volcano erupted and its flows swept away hundreds of houses on its way to the sea, or now, with the eruption that is taking place in Iceland. All this reminds us that the earth below us is alive, and now a team of volcanologists assures that the risk of a major volcanic eruption is increasing, pointing out that the world is not prepared to face such an event. images of the Fagradalsfjall volcano, in Iceland, in eruption againMore probability of large eruptionsThe team formed by Michael Cassidy and Lara Maní has ​​published an article in the journal Nature in which they study the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano, in Tonga , from a few months ago, an eruption that they describe as “the volcanic equivalent of an asteroid that almost collided with the Earth”. Volcanologists equate the risk of a massive eruption to the impact of a one kilometer asteroid on our planet, being devastating for humans. With this, they point out that “the probability of large-scale volcanic eruptions occurring during the next century is hundreds times greater than that of recorded asteroid impacts.” According to the authors in their research, “recent data from ice cores on the frequency of eruptions over time suggest that there is a one chance in six that produce a magnitude 7 explosion in the next 100 years. These massive eruptions would have a direct impact on our lives and our environment: “transport, food, water, trade, energy, finance and communications.” Regarding the Tonga volcano on which they base their research, they expose which ejected so much ash that it affected hundreds of kilometers around it, causing economic losses in the country and other nearby areas. Not only that, because tsunamis were recorded on Japanese, North American and South American coasts, although luckily this situation only lasted about 11 hours. A situation that did not end up being serious, but that marks a trend that must be paid attention to. Research is lacking From his point of view, funding and global coordination are absolutely necessary to prepare for volcanoes. “We are completely underestimating the risk they pose to society. Our complex global networks could make us even more vulnerable to the impact of a major eruption”, they point out. Thus, they state that right now there could be dozens of volcanoes in the world with extreme destructive power. “Even relatively recent eruptions may not be known to us due to lack of research, especially in neglected regions such as Southeast Asia.” of sudden and extraordinary destruction.