Volcanoes

Peter J. Baxter

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511902482.041

39 - Volcanoes

from SECTION B - ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 August 2011

Peter J. Baxter

Edited by

Kristi L. Koenig and

Carl H. Schultz

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Kristi L. Koenig: Affiliation:
University of California, Irvine
Carl H. Schultz: Affiliation:
University of California, Irvine

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Summary

OVERVIEW

Introduction

An understanding of how people are killed and injured in volcanic eruptions is essential for advancing disaster mitigation measures as well as for managing casualties in actual events (Table 39.1). The main aim of disaster medicine is the prevention of direct human deaths and injuries and reducing economic losses that can indirectly affect health through increasing poverty and inequality. A surprisingly large number of lethal phenomena are associated with eruptions, and health hazards can arise even when volcanoes are in a state of apparent repose. Compared with other types of disasters such as floods, wind storms, and earthquakes, volcanic eruptions occur much less frequently. In recent decades there were on average only two–four events worldwide per year that involved fatalities and people living near an active volcano have only a low statistical risk of a serious event happening in their lifetimes.

The reactivation of a volcano in a densely populated area should trigger a state of emergency, like a warning for an approaching hurricane or storm surge. Forecasting an eruption in a state of unrest requires a team of experienced volcanologists equipped with the latest monitoring technology who can make a rapid appraisal based on what is known about the particular volcano and by drawing analogies from similar volcanoes and how they behave. Although most of these potential crises do not lead to a major eruption and states of unrest can remain in place for years, the uncertainty of forecasting eruptive behavior and the possibility that a serious eruption can happen with little to no warning means that evacuation decisions may have to be made very quickly.

Keywords

emergency planning lahars lava flows tephra fall volcanic disasters pyroclastic flows surges

Type: Chapter
Information: Koenig and Schultz's Disaster Medicine
Comprehensive Principles and Practices
, pp. 632 - 642

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511902482.041 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2009

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Used with permission from Elsevier.

Book contents

39 - Volcanoes

Summary

Keywords

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