Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology & Volcanology

Volcanoes and social media make us (more?) crazy

Elisabetta Billotta and Daniele Musumeci April 20, 2022

South-East Crater of Mount Etna, 13.2.2022. Photo by Daniele Musumeci

Many people are drawn to danger and behaviors that can harm their health or finances. Dangerous activities include the attraction that humans have always had towards natural events, such as volcanic eruptions, or towards gambling, adventure, challenging travels or physical activities without the ability or the necessary preparation. In today’s life many people face risks, however these risks ...[Read More]

An Overview on the 15 Jan 2022 Hunga Tonga-Huna Ha’apai Eruption

Alessandro Musu February 9, 2022

Picture taken on 5th June 2017 by Damien Grouille together with Cécile Sabau, during an geological and photographic expedition carried out for the NASA. The shot is done from the summit of Hunga Tonga -Hunga Ha'apai island (HTHH), giving a view to the East and the island of Hunga Tonga. Photo credit: Damien Grouille, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Since 15 January 2022, the islands of the Tonga archipelago and surrounding territories have been suffering the effects of what has turned out to be one of the biggest eruptions of this century. The eruption occurred on Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai, an island created by the emergence of a large submarine volcano. HTHH is located among the ~170 islands of the Kingdom of Tonga and about 65 km nor ...[Read More]

GMPV for Sustainable Development – Geohazards and Volcanic Monitoring

Camilla Imarisio November 3, 2021

GMPV and The Sustainable Development Goals In 2015 all United Nations Member States adopted a set of Global Goals, as a universal call to protect our planet, end poverty and ensure that all people can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are called the Sustainable Development Goals – 17 integrated goals aimed at addressing the challenges our society is currently facing considering social, economic, a ...[Read More]

The Volcano & the Ash cloud: Eyjafjallajökull eruption 11 years later

Niamh Faulkner April 7, 2021

In the foreground there is a farm with a backdrop of a volcano is emitting large amounts of ash into the air.

The Ash cloud billowing out of Eyjafjallajökull in southern Iceland, April 16th 2020 (Source Encylopedia Britanica, Brynjar Gauti/AP)

11 years on from the infamous eruption and ash cloud that shut down the European airspace, there are parallels between current travel restrictions and another Icelandic eruption that’s currently in the news. 11 years ago the now infamous eruption of Eyjafjallajökull occurred. I remember that one, the ash cloud, right? Yes, that’s the one. The one that was all over the news, with stunning images of ...[Read More]