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Guest Thinkers —

Friday Flotsam: the cost of Vesuvius erupting, dome collapse at Colima and the deepest volcanic vents

Although the world’s eyes are on Iceland, there is other volcano news, including the high cost of a potential Vesuvius eruption, new dome growth at Colima and all the week’s volcanic activity from the Global Volcanism Program
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Hard to believe, but there is other volcano-related news in the world …

So, with all deference to Eyjafjallajokull, here it is:


Dome collapse on Colima in Mexico, image taken March 30, 2010.

  • The new Smithsonian/USGS GVP Weekly Volcano Activity Report was issued, with news about increasing signs of activity at Egon in Indonesia, a possible plume at Miyakejima in Japan and more dome growth at Soufriere Hills.
  • A study on the economic effect of a new Vesuvius eruption was released and the finding show the potential for a staggering $24 billion of economic damage directly related to an eruption. This was part of a list of the top 10 most “dangerous” volcanoes in Europe based on insurance risk, where Vesuvius sat #1 and the Campei Flegrei was #2.
  • Colima in Mexico has been active over the past few weeks, and Colima Online posted images of the small dome-collapse pyroclastic flows generated by the explosions. Just reminds us that eruptions are going on all the time, even if they’re not in the news.
  • If you’re into undersea volcanism, a recent expedition visited what is believed to be the deepest known hydrothermal field, in the Cayman Trough between Cuba and Jamaica. The hydrothermal vents at the ocean’s floor were producing strong black smokers of hot, mineral-rich fluids – all related to magma underneath the sea floor in the Caribbean.
  • The seismicity at Redoubt in Alaska is all but gone, indicating that whatever started the earthquakes wasn’t directly leading to an new eruption.
  • And remember, the 30th anniversary of the May 1980 eruption of Mt. Saint Helens is around the corner. Are you ready?
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