| There are two different views of volcanoes. | | | | bringing the possibility that the magma chamber |
| Some people see it as a thing of beauty, traveling | | | | could still come alive. With one hundred times as |
| around the world just to witness volcanic | | | | many people on earth as when it first erupted, |
| eruptions. Many others see volcanoes as a | | | | the effects on the world would be catastrophic |
| disaster waiting to happen. A volcano is a | | | | should it erupt again. Food resources, climate and |
| mountain that opens downloads to a pool of | | | | water availability would all be affected. |
| molten rock beneath the earth. Eruptions occur | | | | Volcanic eruptions sometimes also occur |
| when there a build up in pressure inside a volcano, | | | | unexpectedly and when nobody is prepared for it. |
| causing gas and rock to shoot up through the | | | | The slumbering volcanic peak of Mount St Helens |
| opening and spill over. | | | | in Washington is one of America’s most |
| Volcanic eruptions however come in many | | | | beautiful national forests and a magnet for |
| different ways. Volcanic eruptions around the | | | | vacationers seeking the great outdoors. However, |
| world have also taken many lives and caused | | | | on 18 May, 1980, the volcano erupted without |
| billions of dollars worth of damage. Some are on a | | | | warning. Within just four minutes, the blast |
| large scale while others occur on a much milder | | | | flattened 570 square kilometers, taking the lives |
| scale, like the volcanoes in Hawaii. Super-volcanoes | | | | of 57 people. The final cost of the disaster was |
| are large but infrequent volcanoes such as Lake | | | | an estimated one billion dollars, but the toll on |
| Toba. | | | | those affected is impossible to calculate. Why did |
| Lake Toba lies in the northern part of the | | | | it take everyone surprise and why did nobody |
| Indonesian island of Sumatra in South East Asia. It | | | | predict such as a catastrophic eruptions? |
| is one of the largest natural features of the | | | | The Mount St Helens eruption was seen as a |
| Southern hemisphere and is clearly visible from | | | | wake up call for volcanology. Scientists now |
| space. Popular as one of the tourist landmarks in | | | | understand how dramatically super-volcanoes can |
| Indonesia, this 100 km long and 30 km wide lake, | | | | affect life on earth and they are racing to map |
| is also home to terrifying mystery- a mystery | | | | out the lifecycle of this terrifying natural |
| that lurked undiscovered for millennia. Miles | | | | phenomenon and attempt to predict the next |
| beneath the placid surface of Lake Toba lies the | | | | eruption, particularly for super-volcanoes like Lake |
| cause of one of the greatest natural disasters | | | | Toba. |
| ever, more powerful than anything else on earth. | | | | We are all vulnerable should another super-volcano |
| The eruption occurred millions of years ago, and | | | | come to life. How many will perish the next time |
| some scientist even believe that the eruption may | | | | a super-volcano erupts? How much destruction |
| have even killed millions. However, what’s | | | | would it cause? What effect will it have on |
| really scary is that it could happen again! Beneath | | | | nature? How will it affect us? |
| Lake Toba, the subduction zone is still clashing, | | | | |