Discussion Post 5:

Evaluate and apply solutions to complex real world physical geography problems
According to the Daily Mail, this past Tuesday Japan witnessed its 47th volcanic
eruption. Footage and photographs taken of the eruption of Mount Sakruajima left many readers
and viewers like myself mesmerized as the eruption lived up to the very definition of a natural
phenomenon. The volcanic eruption occurred in the southern part of the Island Kyushu. The
article acknowledged that the particular cause of the hazard was produced due to the location the
volcano is apart of. The Ring of Fire which is known for a group of active volcanoes "that makes
up a large proportion of the world's quakes and eruptions, is also known to be where
to two plates meet and subduction occurs. Yet as common as these eruptions seem to be, many
scientists and experts found this particular eruption problematic. Leading experts weighed in on
the fatality of an eruption like this and the aftermath it can produce. While the Japan
Meteorological Agency issued "a level 3 alert" to help deter local individuals from the
area, Scientists Yoshiyuki Tatsumi and Keiko Suzuki at Kobe University analyzed the eruption
patterns of volcanoes saying, "its not an overstatement to predict that a natural disaster
could leave the country extinct." They restated that odds of an eruption occurring in the next 100
years at 1% shouldnt be taken lightly as they reviewed past reports where a major natural
disaster that had the same probability occurred out of nowhere killing thousands of individuals.
The second hazard the articles states that is potentially problematic is the volcanic lightning that
forms from the "plumes of ash." While the data these scientists have accumulated allows them to
understand the formation of volcanic lightning, they also found that they can "estimate the ash
distribution in the atmosphere early on and warn the aviation authorities [about potential risks]."
The frequency of these volcanic eruptions really create a stark realism of the strong dangers of
these natural hazards. The solution that I find would best elevate the potential problem of a
highly dangerous natural hazard would be to continue to study them. I believe the more you
know, the better you understand what problems you are dealing with. If you are able to
understand the research provided on the potential hazards, accumulating funding for relief plans
can be carried out more efficiently. I would also issues warnings to citizens, so that individuals
can understand what one should do when faced with a natural hazard.
Stacy Liberatore, "Japanese Volcanic Eruption that Created Giant Plumes of Ash 5k m High and
Even Lightning. DailyMail.com, 27 July 2016. Web. 27 July
2016. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3711378/Watch-breathtaking-Japanesevolcanic-eruption-created-giant-plumes-ash-5-000-metres-high-lightning.html#ixzz4Flzb0Ixp