Volcanic activity and its management

A volcano is a rupture in the Earth’s crust that facilitates the movement of hot lava, volcanic ash, and gases from a magma chamber to the surface.
Volcanic activity often occurs at convergent and divergent plate boundaries where one tectonic plate meets another.
There are several types of volcanoes including stratovolcanoes, shield volcanoes, lava domes, and calderas.

Craters and calderas are depressions that form at the summit of a volcano following an eruption.
A volcanic cone is a hill or mountain formed around a vent by the accumulation of volcanic material.
Volcanic islands, such as Hawaii, are formed from underwater volcanoes erupting repeatedly over time.

Volcanoes pose several hazards including lava flows, ash clouds, pyroclastic flows, volcanic gases, and volcanic landslides.
Volcanic ash can affect air travel, damage machinery, contaminate water, collapse buildings and adversely affect human health.
Pyroclastic flows are hot, fast-moving gas and ash clouds that can travel down a volcano at high speed, devastating everything in their path. These are the most lethal aspect of any eruption.
Beyond immediate hazards, volcanic activity can influence global climate, leading to periods of global cooling.

Predicting volcanic eruptions is challenging but various methods of monitoring are utilised, such as detecting seismic activity (earthquakes), measuring ground deformation, observing gas emissions, and monitoring groundwater temperature and level changes.
These techniques allow for some prediction and early warning of possibly impending eruptions.

Evacuation plans should be established in areas prone to volcanic activity, enabling rapid response in case of impending eruption.
Buildings in potential fallout zones need to consider design elements that can withstand volcanic hazards, such as heavy ash fall.
Educating local communities about the risks and emergency procedures can be crucial in minimising risk and ensuring efficient evacuation.
Long-term, post-disaster rehabilitation and rebuilding must be managed thoughtfully, considering the ongoing volcanic risks.