What can a geologist do to protect the world from volcanoes?

Answer 1

In risk analysis, you have to separate clearly risk severity from risk likelihood. Decreasing severity is called mitigation : for example, wearing a safety belt is a mitigation method for car accident. Decreasing likelihood is called prevention : for example, alcohol limitation policies will decrease the likelihood of car accident (and in fact also the severity).

What a geologist can do with a volcano is clearly to decrease the severity but he cannot decrease the likelihood of an eruption, people saying they can control volcanoes eruption are either liars, crooks or mad people.
Geologists can thus only propose mitigation method :
1/ By proposing various security perimeters around volcanoes
2/ By implementing a network of sensors for surveillance of the volcano. The factors to monitor are : seismicity, ground deformation, gas emitions (qualitative and quantitative) and hydrology.
3/ By alerting authorities when a dangerous situation is likely to happen.

Answer 2

Volcanoes have erupted for the last 4.55 billion years. They will continue to do so. All a geologist can do is work on developing better predicting systems so that evacuations can be made.

Answer 3

Geologic processes become geologic hazards when people are involved.

Geologists can't really "protect the world from volcanoes". What we can do is to inform the public and govt. officials on the dangers of living in volcanic areas. We can do this by mapping volcanic deposits to see where future areas might be affected, help officials draft laws on where people can live, and develop ways to better predict volcanic eruptions.

Answer 4

A geologist could tell people to move away from volcanoes, but you cannot stop them.

Answer 5

First response is correct. Aside from giving warning, nothing can be done.

Answer 6

Plug them all up by throwing in all the sappy do-gooders who think something "should" or "can" be done about it. That should provide enough mass to constipate them for some time.

- The Gremlin Guy -

Answer 7

i personally think that all natural activities, including tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes, and storms etc are part of natural balance. what should we do is just to manage ourselves without calling any of above activities as " harmful" to our lives.

Answer 8

Nothing!
Nobody can turn off a volcano.
Protect yourself...don't live near one.