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.