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…
Seismic activity
Laser ranging
Tilt meter
Temperature
change
SO2 gas release
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)
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.
Reducing the effects
1. Evacuation
2. Ash-proof roofs
3. Information/guidance
4. Hazard maps
5. Lava spraying
6. Lava diversions
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