But volcanic activity also brings

benefits:

hot springs

can be harnessed

for heating and to generate

geothermal electricit as in Iceland, Lardarello in Ital and California, USA there is often great potential for
developing tourism at volcanic sites, as in Hawaii and on Mount Etna in Sicily.

As with earthquakes, prediction of volcanic eruptions is an uncertain

O O

lava flows near the sea can create

new land,
ash acts as a

as on Hawaii

business - despite ground bulging and preliminary microquakes. The effects of an eruption can be altered, however, as illustrated by recent eruptions of Mount Etna.

fertiliser to

exhausted soils

valuable

mineral deposits

(such as sulphur) are created

f|ff-r.a*sst #f*s Mount Etna has a long history of frequent eruptions, yet over one million people live on its slopes. This is because of fertile soils, rich orchards, vineyards and orange groves. There is also a thriving tourist industry, including skiing, which is a source of employment for many inhabitants.
Eruptions from the main crater are more rare than those from secondary cones and fissures. A much publicised erupton in 1983 proved the potential for lava diversion, using techniques developed on Hawaii.

Water bombing (to cool and slow the lava), diversionary walls, and canals cut by explosives and bulldozers, were consdered in order to protect two towns in the lava's path. The latter proved partially
successful.

ln 1992 similar techniques were adopted to save Zafferana, a village of 7000 inhabitants on the volcano's eastern slope. 'Cable bombs' below the crater, created holes big enough to soak up the lava, and dams of blocks of lava and concrete were used to spread the flow. As a result the lava cooled and
solidified more rapidly andZatferana was saved.

3300 m
2

0m
10.5 km

4
Mount

Etna

5
0
490 Zaferana
(pop.7000)

I
2
3

4 5 6

lonian Sea Mid-December 1991: 2400 metres up Mount Etna New fissures open up, spilling 120 million tonnes of lava January 1992: Dam diverts lava into natural crater I OOO lb mines are detonated but fail to slow or divert lava stream US nelicopters lower 2 tonne concrete blocks into lava but fail to divert flow Lava flowing at 180 metres per hour, breaches four earth dams Lava flow now at 4.5 metres per hour, has almost reached the final dam, 75 metres from the village ol Zafterana

Test

yourself

Stretch yourself
Appreciation of these hazords, but also volcanic benefits too, may depend much upon your time-scale,
For Etno, or ony other volcono or volcanic area

1. What is the difference between magma ond lava?

2, Writing no more thon two short paragraphs

summorise the disadvantages and advantages

ol

volcanic activity.

studied, classily both dongers ond benelits as short-

or long-term,
ENVIRONMENTAL THEMES

. HAZARDS

151

h!,,,