Transcript Nyiragongo
Nyiragongo DRC Predicting the next big eruption Nyiragongo DRC Nyiragongo PHOTOGRAPHY Carsten Peter Nyiragongo WHEN? 2 mile high volcano One of the most active volcanoes on the planet Little research 20 years of constant Warfare Mass migration from Rwanda 20,000 UN troops Goma 10 Miles [16K] Population 1 million 2 lava flows through city – 1977 + 2002 1977 60 mph Several hundreds killed 2002 14,000 homes 350,000 flee 15 million cubic yards of lava Houses buried to the first floor Ken Sims US vulcanologist University of Wyoming Rock Climber and mountaineer Hasn’t owned a TV set for 25 years The Players Dario Tedesco Italian EU funded “Goma, is the most dangerous city in the world.” “My greatest fear is to make a big mistake – not to predict and eruption.” Fissure type eruptions … … not the classic Plinian type Lake 700 feet across 1800o F Lava geysers up to 100ft Expedition to crater lake led by Sims + Tedesco Campsite on Terrace Lowered to cater lake to collect zero-age sample Every day 7000 tones of Sulphur Dioxide ‘Gas sniffer’ tests carbon dioxide carbon monoxide + methane RAD7 tests For Radon Why? Volcanoes are gas driven machines Eruption preceded by: Increase discharged gas Variations chemical composition Two isotopes of radon measured by radioactive clock – ratio indicates time to surface and chemical composition can be extrapolated. Prediction piecemeal – so scientists’ visits essential Volcanic observatory dilapidated one story building in Goma Warning flags bleached and battered Batteries from sensors looted Meanwhile the zero-age sample from the crater lake could be the Rosetta Stone Biblio • William E McNulty + Lisa R RitterIllustration Written by Michael Finkel originally Collated by MO at sbs NGM.COM April 2011 Teachers – print panes 6 to 18 as handouts Additional Resources