Whakaari volcano, NZ 2000. Credit: Michael Rogers
By Rich Bowden
A Melbourne-based geologist has warned that a significant volcanic eruption in Australia is “well overdue” and called for the drawing up of emergency response plans.
Geological Society of Australia member, Associate Professor Bernie Joyce, who will receive the prestigious Selwyn Medal at the Geological Society of Australia’s (Victoria Division) annual Selwyn Symposium 2009, said the geological record showed there had not been a significant eruption in Australia in 5000 years.
He said the lack of volcanic activity pointed to “when, not if” a sizeable eruption will occur.
“There are around 400 volcanoes stretching from the Western District of Victoria into the Western Uplands around Ballarat and to the north of Melbourne around Kyneton and Kilmore, in some parts of the Eastern Uplands such as to the north of Benambra, and across to the South Australian border near Mt Gambier,” he said in a Geological Society statement.
“A volcanic eruption in the Western Uplands could potentially see lava flows and ash falls impacting on Melbourne.”
Prof Joyce added there were also around 380 volcanoes in Far North Queensland stretching from south-west of Townsville to near Cairns and up to Cooktown in the Far North.
Public education required
He said that, unlike countries such as New Zealand, Australia is unprepared for a major eruption and needed to educate its public more on the potential dangers of a volcano.
“It is telling that in New Zealand, which has volcano types similar to those in Australia, there is much more focus on the need to educate the public about volcano risk. For example, the Auckland Regional Council has a webpage devoted to volcano risk for that region alone, which has a history of earlier volcanoes very similar to those of Australia,” he said.
Outlining the dangers of a major volcanic event Prof Joyce said: “The risk from a volcano would not just be from the initial eruption. For example, its red-hot lava and explosive ash would be a major fire hazard on the dry grassland plains of Western Victoria, and lava flows could continue for up to 20 years and for distances of more than 60 kilometres down river systems, cutting off essential water supplies and destroying infrastructure like towns, farming land, roads, railways and bridges.”
“…Eruptions can also produce a mix of toxic gases, including carbon dioxide that could collect in depressions in the surrounding land and asphyxiate those who came across it or were caught in it” he warned.
Prof Joyce will receive the Selwyn Medal this Thursday.
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Well, I hope that their predictions and findings are quite accurate. They should always prioritize the safety of the people.