Discuss hazard mitigation mechanisms developed for different threats posed by volcanoes (40 marks)

Across the globe, the theory of plate tectonics and evidence of shallow Earth structure processes has enabled scientists to determine the variety of hazards cause by different eruptive styles. Volcanoes pose substantial threats to human life as the product of eruptions often enrich the local environment. Therefore, significant populations live proximal to eruptive centres, especially on the slopes (for example; the city of Naples, with a population > 1 million inhabitants on the flanks of Mount Vesuvius. During the last 50 years, advances in technology have improved the accuracy and reliability at predicting volcanic eruptions. Simple methods, such as looking at the historical records of particular volcanoes are effective in predicting return periods. However, the accuracy is substantially lower and often nature doesn't work in patterns, but instead chooses random behaviour. Instead, devices to record subsurface movement in the magma chamber and samples taken from previous eruptions have allowed scientists to predict the eruptive style of the volcano in question. Therefore, for effusive eruptive centres such as the island of Hawaii, the dominant threat to mitigate is the slow moving, but destructive lava flows. On the other hand, pyroclastic flows, lahars and ash fall deposits are more typical of explosive volcanoes such as Mount Pinatubo, Philippines and Sakurajima, Japan. The latter volcano also poses the threat of continual yearly ash fall and during more violent periods, pyroclastic induced tsunamis to the nearby city on the mainland. From records and models formulated from data collections, infrastructure was built to help mitigate the ongoing hazard of Sakurajima. Reinforced roofs have prevented building collapse as well as 10ft high walls along the coastline have prevented tsunami waves destroying the city during pyroclastic eruptions.

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