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CaseStudy Mitch

Published on Nov 20, 2015

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PRESENTATION OUTLINE

Nyiragongo Volcano

M. Mitchell
Photo by gnuckx

VOLCANO LOCATION

  • Western Rift Valley
  • Africa

ERUPTION AFTERMATH

  • Nearly 150 killed
  • Destroyed large portion of the city
  • Hurt economy

CONES

  • Stratovolcano (composite)
  • Center cone is 1.3km in diameter
  • Two smaller cones
  • Shaheru
  • Baruta

SIMILAR TO HAWAIIAN VOLCANOES

  • Unique because they aren't the same type
  • High temperatures
  • Low viscosity
  • Basaltic material slows viscosity

CASE STUDY PURPOSE

  • Determine if predictions were made properly
  • Decide how to improve predictions
Photo by Mylla

PROCESS:6 CHARACTERSTICS

  • Seismic activity
  • Geodesic
  • Geochemical
  • Temperature
  • Direct observation

CONES

  • Stratovolcano (composite)
  • Two smaller cones
  • Shaheru
  • Baruta
  • Center cone is 1.3 km in diameter

SIMILAR TO HAWAIIAN VOLCANOES

  • Not same type
  • Very hot temperatures
  • Highly basaltic material
  • Low viscosity

CASE STUDY PURPOSE

  • To determine whether or not prediction was successful
  • To better predict eruptions

PROCEDURE

MONITORED 6 FACTORS

6 FACTORS

  • Seismic activity
  • Geodesic
  • Geochemical
  • Temerature
  • Direct observations

SEISMIC ACTIVITY

  • 4 types
  • A-type, B-type,
  • C-type, volcanic tremors

A-TYPE

  • Fracture in rocks
  • High pressures from magma

B-TYPE

  • Lava lakes
  • Lava outbursts

C-TYPE

  • Magma moves through the reservoir

VOLCANIC TREMORS

  • Always occur
  • Magma moves in vibration

GEODESIC

  • Measures slope and curve
  • Linked to rock deformations

GEOCHEMICAL

  • Measures gases
  • carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, fluoride, hydrogen sulphur,
  • carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride, and methane
  • Detectors

TEMPERATURE

  • Temperature increase rapidly
  • Magma is rising quickly
Photo by diathesis

DIRECT OBSERVATIONS

  • Plants
  • Grumbles
  • Shifts
  • Animals

RESULTS

SEISMIC ACTIVITY

  • Epicenters between Nyamulagira and Nyiragongo
  • Nyamulagira epicenters were shallow
  • Nyiragongo epicenters were deep

GEODESIC FACTORS

  • Flanks expanded
  • Lava lake would rise

GEOCHEMICAL

  • Increase in CO2 levels
  • More than doubled

TEMPERATURE

  • No extreme change
  • Increase right before eruption

DIRECT OBSERVATION

  • Lava lake rising
  • Connected valcanoes erupted
  • Tremors and earthquakes
  • Black smoke
  • Grumbling

PREDICTION

  • Accurate
  • Failed because of bad communication
  • Not great technology

CONCLUSION

  • Monitor factors
  • Be aware
  • Communicate well
  • Take the hint