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Could a huge, prolonged volcanic eruption, like those said to have caused several past mass extinctions, happen again?
Mike Follows
Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, UK
Yes, huge, prolonged volcanic eruptions could happen again, though there are usually warning signs. Increased seismic activity, changes in gas emissions and ground swelling often precede an eruption. These can be monitored, as can changes in thermal images taken of volcanoes.
Despite these advances, the exact timing, magnitude and nature of an eruption are difficult to predict. However, effective monitoring led to the correct prediction of the 1980 eruption of Mount St Helens in the…
