Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Do you think a device that could go across the top of a volcano would be helpful indata collection?

Hi,

That's an interesting question. I thought about this, and used some information from this website to help formulate my answer:

http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/volc/text.html#monitoring

If you had a device stretched across the top of the volcano, what would it measure? It could measure differences in smoke or temperature at different points in the volcono opening, right? This might be useful, depending on what we are trying to study.

My opinion is that monitoring the inside of the volcano would be more useful, so a device that could go inside or see inside the volcano might be more useful than a device stretched across the top, but the device stretched across the top could also give some useful information. Reading through the link I provided explained the types of data volcanologists collect when keeping a diary of a volcano. They look for physical changes, such as differences in the smoke levels, temperature, smoke contents and shape of the volcano. I think having more information about the inside would be helpful.

Hi Patty,

You've already gotten some good advice, as knowing what's happening inside a volcano might help us predict when it is likely to erupt.

That said, we can also obtain interesting information from a device near the top. You could try to trap the gases that are being released to the volcano, to determine what kinds and in what proportions they are being released. Note that volcanoes are actually a natural contributor of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide.

You could also measure temperature changes, and other variables. What kind of data did you want to measure, and how did you want to use it?

Heather