What more can be done to reduce the negative impact of a volcano?

1.   Use hazard mapping and satellite monitoring such that one is able to tell exactly when the volcano will erupt.

2.   Able to use barrier walls to penetrate the lava flow

3.   Use diversionary lava channels to disrupt the lava flow

4.   Practice evacuation drills, prepare emergency food and water supplies

5.   Use military bombings to divert lava flow

6.   Dropping large concrete blocks into the tubes feeding the lava to divert the flow

7.   Educating the community, focusing mainly on those that are most likely to be affected by volcanes

Acknowledgements

http://newstodaynews.com/volcanic-eruption-increase-the-rain-in-southeast-asia/11993
http://donatepray4indonesia.com/2010/11/21/indonesia-to-promote-mt-merapis-eco-tourism/
http://www.morphealth.com/search/long-term-effects-mount-merapi-eruption/
http://www.suite101.com/content/mount-merapi-volcano-known-for-being-active-and-deadly-a301153
http://www.yourdemocracy.net.au/drupal/files/images/IRIS%20Seismic%20Monitor.jpg
http://www.ags.gov.ab.ca/graphics/turtle_mountain/Tiltmeters_figure_sm.jpg
http://www.iraqwatch.org/government/US/Pentagon/fig9.gif
http://library.thinkquest.org/17457/volcanoes/prediction.php

Look at why people continue to live in areas where volcanoes are found

Currently, around 500 million people live near volcanoes. This is mainly because an active volcano can not only be dangerous and risky but beneficial and helpful.

Some examples of the benefits of volcanoes are firstly, the soil is fertile and the volcanic products can be used in our daily lives. Volcanic products like sulfur can be used either for making matches or for medicinal purposes. Gravel and sand which the volcanoes deposit into rivers after eruption can be used to construct buildings. The soil around the volcanoes is fertile because the lava will gradually go through the process of weathering and change form to fertile soil.

Geothermal energy harnessed from the active volcanoes can be used to generate electrical power. The steam from liquids gained from these volcanoes can also be used to drive turbines. Other liquids that have lower temperature can be used to heat the atmosphere during cold times, for greenhouses and for hot springs. The geothermal liquids sometimes do contain sulfur, gold, silver and mercury. These products can also be used to provide energy.

As humans, we are always interested in what goes on around us. Curious tourists would visit volcanoes as most of them do not usually get to see volcanoes. Thus, volcanoes would bring tourism to the area. The tourism business would then provide jobs for the people like being a tour guide, selling souvenirs and transportation services.
All these benefits of volcanoes would attract people to live there, although they know the risk. Most volcanoes do not erupt that frequently. This, in the eyes of people living near volcanoes, would cause the benefits to weigh out the risks.

Look at the ways that volcanic eruptions can be predicted

Why predicting the eruption of volcanoes are important:

• Volcanoes are able to destroy large areas of land during eruption
• Volcanoes can kill and injure many people during eruption

Ways to watch on volcanoes:

• Volcanoes can be continuously watched on by accurate measurements
• But the methods used to monitor the volcanoes are expensive
• They require skillful operators with complicated instruments in observatories
• Not all countries can afford to watch on their volcanoes

Most important methods & instruments used to predict eruption:

-Seismographic monitoring

http://www.yourdemocracy.net.au/drupal/files/images/IRIS%20Seismic%20Monitor.jpg

• Magma rising from a volcano causes moderate Earth tremors
• As magma gets closer to the surface of the Earth, the tremors would occur more frequently and get stronger
• These volcanic tremors are probably the most reliable sign to tell us that a volcano is going to erupt soon
• These tremors can be detected by automatic telemeter recorders, where the results are immediately sent to an observatory for analysis

-Tiltmeters

http://www.ags.gov.ab.ca/graphics/turtle_mountain/Tiltmeters_figure_sm.jpg

• Tiltmeters are made up of 3 graduated pots put together into a triangle
• They are either filled up with water or mercury and are very accurate
• Ground deformation is frequently caused by magma rising within a volcano
• Tiltmeters measures ground deformation
• When the rising magma causes a bulge, tilting is measured
• As the volcano is about to erupt, this process takes place slowly

http://www.iraqwatch.org/government/US/Pentagon/fig9.gif

- Surveillance by satellites

• This process is expensive and is still in its developing stages
• However, it may be the best way to predict volcanic eruptions in the future
• The Global Positioning System (GPS), is used to measure displacement on the ground, including those near to volcanoes, which might predict eruptions
• Orbiting satellites help the GPS to collect data

The above 3 methods are commonly used together

Signs of a volcanic eruption:

-Gas and steam may emit from a volcano before an eruption

• An increased amount of gas emissions and steam from furmaroles, mudpots, and solfataras usually show that the magma is rising nearer to the surface of the Earth
• Furmaroles are vents giving off gases or steam and are found on both active and dormant volcanoes
• Solfatara is an Italian word used to describe a furmarole that gives off sulfurous gases
• These information are not easy to collect as the gas emissions may damage the instruments and also harm the people collecting these information

After a volcano is studied:

-Hazard assessment maps may be created

• These maps show the areas of most danger and highest risk around a volcano
• It is important for the dangerous and risky areas to be correct and highlighted in detail
• This is to allow the people living in those places to evacuate before the volcano erupts

Investigate the long-term impacts of volcanoes

      Mount Merapi, otherwise know as 'Mountain of Fire', is located in central Java, Indonesia. This volcano is known to be deadly and its eruptions are fatal. Eruptions have been recorded from this volcano as far back as 8700BC. Even now, it is still active and its most recent was the fatal eruption in October 2010 that caused dozens of deaths due to searing ash that reached 5000 metres into the atmosphere and lava. Lives were affected and it was hard for locals, whose homes, crops and livestock were destroyed due to the devastating eruptions.
      
      These volcano eruptions have caused long term impacts in different aspects. Long term health problems that have been attributed to the eruptions include eye, skin and respiratory problems. Existing health  conditions can be made worse due to inhaling of dust particles. Asthma and bronchitis can turn into emphysema. If you have heart problems, it can worsen and even be fatal. All of these will have long term impacts on locals. They will require medical attention, and most of them living in the villages in Java cannot afford to pay for the medical fees. Also, with worsening health conditions, the locals will not be able to continue to work as they are sick. This in turn will lead to a long term economic impact.
     

      Indonesia is a third world country and the volcano eruptions have caused a set back in their economy, especially since it is still in debt. Due to destroyed homes, crops, job losses and fewer job opportunities, the Indonesian government had to fork out money to support the homeless and create more jobs. As most of the crops and livestock were destroyed, farmers could not sell their produce and in turn did not contribute to the economy. The rate of jobless people also rose, and the government had to create jobs and provide food, shelters and daily necessities to the homeless. The Indonesian government however was very creative and managed to invite tourists to Java and create a tourist attraction at Mount Merapi. They have created eco-tourism packages around the slopes of Mount Merapi. Through this ingenious idea, the tourism industry has risen, and so has the economy.


     Socially, the negative impacts include loss of homes and shelters to live in. This will cause a mass relocation of the affected to other parts of the country. Their ancestral homes will be lost forever and they will also lose their belongings, friends and neighbours. This might affect their well being as the locals are very close knit since they live in small villages and do not have many friends. They also might not be able to adapt to a new environment after having lived at the same place for a long time. On the positive side, the different communities will be bonded as they help each other in times of crisis. Friendly inter-relations are also formed as the different countries offer help to affected countries.


      The Mount Merapi eruptions have caused environmental impacts too. Although many people have the perception that the eruptions contribute to global warming, studies show otherwise. Volcanic eruptions in Indonesia have been shown to reduce air temperature and increase rainfall. This helps the human and plant lives as the rainy season is vital for survival. Volcanic eruptions spread sulfur content that turns into microscopic sulfate particles in the atmosphere that refract sunlight, cooling air temperature. The scientists are even planning to build an artificial volcano to reduce the air temperature by pumping sulfate particles into the atmosphere. Lava and rocks from the volcanoes are also known to decompose and form very fertile soil for farming. This will create jobs again and contribute to the economy. There will also be more food to feed the people and they will be happier.

      The lives of the locals in Java have definitely changed a lot since the recent eruptions. Although they will have to suffer for a while, the short term impacts will be forgotten soon. The positive long term impacts will allow them to get back to their village soon, but they will have to work together as one to rebuild their lives again and continue on as it did before the eruptions. I sincerely hope that they will be able to get back up on their feet and that there will be fewer eruptions from the deadly Mount Merapi.