Charlotte Reynolds                                                                                                    January 8, 2013

Earth Science C Even                                                                                                       Ms. Davies

Doomsday Volcanoes

            After watching the short TV clip on volcanoes in Iceland I became more aware of the history behind these big deathly mountains. This film on volcanoes in Iceland elaborated on the danger that could strike at any moment. Scientists are trying to determine when the main volcanoes, Aya, Katla, Laki, and Hekla will explode. After watching more and more of the film scientists uncovered information about the volcanoes that could pin point when they could explode. Unlike their characteristics, each volcano is connected underground. However, some can be more dangerous than others. For example, Laki produced sulfuric gas that killed thousands of people in Europe. Laki is different from the other volcanoes because it gushes magma in a linear vent system, meaning instead of exploding out of a big hole at the top, it explodes through linear cracks. However, scientists are more worried now about Katla due to the fact that she has been rumbling and can explode any minute. As they continue to explode in Iceland, more and more problems have aroused. For example, in 2010 Aya exploded giving off a lot of thick, gray clouds filled with particles from the magma. Although this may not seem deadly, it causes chaos when airplanes were trying to transport from Iceland. Therefore, even with all the scientific studies we have created, these deathly volcanoes are unbeatable.

            This article is important to society because volcanoes are not just something you find in Iceland. They are placed all over the world. I think it is important to be aware of what’s around you and expect the worst. These people who live in Iceland, always have to be careful for what could come next. Especially with these 4 major volcanoes, people in Iceland have to be on high alert. This topic is also interesting. Therefore, the more we know about it, the more safety we have to avoid it.

            I thought the clip on TV was very well presented. Overall it wasn’t too confusing when using difficult scientific references. I definitely liked how it touched base on 4 volcanoes and then showed the connection between them. Also, the clip didn’t just focus on volcanoes in Iceland. It gave a broad overview on the ones around the world, which helped put it into perspective from where we live. I learned a lot by just watching an hour clip on volcanoes because it talked about what was underneath them, not just what exploded. This clip was good at being clear and making science interesting.