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Week 8 [02.12 – 08.12.2019] Can a Volcano Destroy the World?

Can a Volcano Destroy the World?
Nowadays people like to think that we have everything under perfect control, we are prepared for every little accident. We strongly believe that the world is a safe place and there are not many things, which may surprise us. What is the truth?



Nature is untamed and unpredictable. What is more, it can destroy our planet in various ways, in every little moment. The real phenomenon is volcanoes. There are of course ones that are not that harmful, their potential explosion is not scary, especially being far away from the place of the eruption. However, historic events like eruptions in Pompei or Indonesia that they can be deadly.


Did you know that volcanoes can be even more powerful than atomic bombs detonated in Hiroshima or even Tsar bomb? Which islands disappeared after massive eruptions? Did you know that volcanic ashes were Munch’s inspiration while painting „The Scream”? For those and much more information check out RealLifeLore titled „Can a Volcano Destroy the World?”.


  1. Have you ever seen volano in person? Do you want to see it?
  2. In your opinion, how dangerous volcanoes can be?
  3. What would the world look like if there were no volcanoes?
  4. How different would the world be if Pompeii and other cities, countries, islands were not destroyed by volcanoes?



[3] https://scitechdaily.com/images/Volcanic-Eruption.jpg

Comments

Maciej P s16488 said…
1) I've never seen it and if i got a chance i'd like to but it isn't on my bucket list.

2) Depending on volcanos kind, amount of gases, density, temperature and other stuff i don't really have knowledge about it can be not dangerous at all up to potentially disasterous.

3) Flat.

4) I think about it that way: how do i feel about cities that still exist? I would probably feel same about now-destroyed cities.
Bartosz Barnat said…
Have you ever seen volano in person? Do you want to see it?
I have seen a volcano in person but from quite far away. I want to visit one and have a closer look again ;).

In your opinion, how dangerous volcanoes can be?
After seeing a video shared by you I must say i didn't expect volcanoes to be that powerful and dangerous to us. I think it is really scary that it can erupt any time and kill a lot of people and they might not be able to do anything about it.

What would the world look like if there were no volcanoes?
Well volcanoes structured our lands that we are walking in right now, I don't know how it would look like if there were no volcanoes and I can't even fancy it.

How different would the world be if Pompeii and other cities, countries, islands were not destroyed by volcanoes?
Well again, I don't really know and didn't think about it at all.
August Micota said…
Have you ever seen volano in person? Do you want to see it?
Yeah long time ago as a kid my parents took me on Vesuvio. I think i still have some lava rocks in my house somewhere.

In your opinion, how dangerous volcanoes can be?
Extremely dangerous, just look at the history of mankind to understand it.

What would the world look like if there were no volcanoes?
I'm sure that different :)

How different would the world be if Pompeii and other cities, countries, islands were not destroyed by volcanoes?
I'm unable to answer that question, i have no idea. They might be prosperous societies right now.
1. Have you ever seen volano in person? Do you want to see it?
Yes, a long time ago, when I was still in elementary school, we went to Italy on a family vacation, we climbed the summit of Vesuvius there. It was the only volcano I saw in person and I even walked on it. Climbing was not too difficult, but the volcano itself was huge. I remember that I liked the ground very much when climbing the mountain, the volcanic rocks had a unique shape and texture. I remember taking a few smaller stones with me home.

2. In your opinion, how dangerous volcanoes can be?
I think volcanoes are very dangerous, not only for people and cities, but also for the environment. Apart from the fact of the eruption itself, where everything around the volcano disappears, clouds of smoke, gas and volcanic ash get into the atmosphere and pollute the environment. In addition, dust and toxic clouds can travel great distances with the wind, then ash precipitation is very harmful to anyone or anything being affected by it. Along with the eruption of the volcano, there are also shifts in the tectonic layers that can cause, for example, a tsunami.

3. What would the world look like if there were no volcanoes?
Probably the world would be better. Surely we could see all the islands and landscapes that have been absorbed by previous volcanic eruptions. However, the lack of volcanoes would mean no magma movements below the planet's surface, then we would not see any hills or mountains above the surface. However, volcanoes are needed to express the geological activity of the planet's interior, vulcanization tells us that the planet is "alive".

4. How different would the world be if Pompeii and other cities, countries, islands were not destroyed by volcanoes?
I think that if we could see these places, maybe there would be new species of animals, people and cultures that we didn't know before. If a volcano erupted today that would destroy a large part of a country, such as the Yellowstone volcano and the effects of its eruption on the US, surely everyone would regret it. I think we should have the same feelings for those lands that aren't there today because of volcanoes.
Yeah, I have seen Vesuvius from very close, in fact I was on it right next to the crater. View from there is really breathtaking and it is really amazing to see and kind of feel the destructive force of this volcano while roaming Pompeii. How dangerous volcanoes can be? Well it depends on their size, for example in USA in Yellowstone there is ancient asleep volcano that is so enormously big that from what I heard if it erupts it could end humanity on earth. So if You are asking how dangerous volcanos can be, I would say VERY. It is quite hard to tell how would Earth look like with out volcanos… I would say it would be more flat? Answer to Your last question is as hard as answer to the previous one :P I don’t know how world would look like but I think it wouldn’t be that much different.
PIOTR PAWLAK said…
1. Yes, I was in Naples for some time and I saw Vesuvius. Also my friends and I went up to the crater, but it was very cold there, so we had to get down quickly.

2. I think volcanos can be very dangerous. Just look how easily Pompei was destroyed. Just by one big eruption of Vesuvius.

3. I cannot imagine that but I think everything on earth is needed, volcanos as well, so in my opinion life would not be better if volcaons didn't exists.

4. I think less people would have heard about Pompeii if there was no eruption of Vesuvius. Now we can travel there and learn their culture. Of course many people would survived.
Maciej Szczypek said…
1. Have you ever seen volano in person? Do you want to see it?
Yes, I have seen a volcano when I have been to Naples a couple of times. I have seen Vesuvius from quite big distance but it still counts I guess.

2. In your opinion, how dangerous volcanoes can be?
It can be really deadly. Not only because of the lava and the hot fluids it produces. I mean the exhausts and fumes it creates.

3. What would the world look like if there were no volcanoes?
It is really an abstract question and it is hard to answer that. Also, I know too little about volcanos to even try to answer that.

4. How different would the world be if Pompeii and other cities, countries, islands were not destroyed by volcanoes?
Unfortunately my answet is exactly the same as for question above. Possibly I just lack imagination and knowledge.
s15385 said…
1. I have never seen volcano in person but for some time I'd like to fly to Naples and there will be opportunity to see.

2. Volcanos can be very dangerous if they erupt. Volcanos located near cities can cause massive damage. An example is Vesuvio that destroyed Pompeii completly. On the other hand volcanos situated in the middle of nature can burn large areas and kill lots of animals that live there.

3. It's hard to answer the question. Pompeii would be still a city to live for sure.
dominik.samsel said…
We should also raise awareness, because I think not everybody knows that volcanoes exist. They just assume that if they don't see them, they treat it like a relic of the past. Of course, we are lucky in that way we live far away from these, but it doesn't change the fact that, there might be even 40 active volcanoes right now!
It's all according to this article, which I recommend as an expand of this subject:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/robinandrews/2018/10/24/there-are-40-volcanoes-erupting-on-earth-right-now-heres-why-thats-not-strange/
dominik.samsel said…
I really like the part in which you're describing the volacano you've seen in the past. Many people just think it's like another mountain with just an extra feature of pouring red hot liquid from the inside. I've always wondered how it's like standing near crater mouth.

What you also mention is in overall volcanoes' influence on enviroment - not everybody talks about it. Just stop for a minute and think how much pollution is poured to atmosphere during explosion or how landscape changed, how many species of flora and fauna lava killed. It's like a missed opportunity for us to get to know them.

dominik.samsel said…
That Yellowstone's volcano potential eruption can also change the world in not so obvious way. Just imagine, it erupts, destroys big part of this powerful country. What could happen next? The USA tries to rescue itself, raise from their knees. Could it be the end of their power?
dominik.samsel said…
What I meant asking question about Pompeii was, before the eruption this city was full of life, big part of Italian culture. I'll quote one article I've read about it[1]:

" As Vesuvius stood simmering, Pompeii was thriving with life. Elaborate villas, stylish shops, and public markets lined the cobblestone streets. With the city renowned for its fashion and luxury. At the time of the eruption, it is estimated that roughly 20,000 people were living in and around Pompeii, both rich and poor."

Having these information in consideration, for standarts of ancient Europe it was quite important city. To show some argumentation behind it, according to sources[2], for example in Cracow in 1560, so right before the capital was moved to Warsaw, it had also around 20 000 people living there. Let just think that between this date and eruption of Vesuvius was around 1500 years! I think that's impressive.



[1] https://www.pompeiitours.it/blog/how-big-was-the-pompeii-eruption/
[2] https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludno%C5%9B%C4%87_Krakowa
Mykyta Smirnov said…
Have you ever seen volano in person? Do you want to see it?
I haven't seen a volcano in person and actually I'm not interested in that.

In your opinion, how dangerous volcanoes can be?
They can destroy entire humanity, they can change the look of our planet. They're very dangerous.

What would the world look like if there were no volcanoes?
It's impossible, if there would be no volcanos, there would be no mountains. So planet would look like almost ideal sphere, and for us it would be flat.

How different would the world be if Pompeii and other cities, countries, islands were not destroyed by volcanoes?
I think that world would not change. This cities would have their history like any other ancient city nowadays.
Kacper Gąsior said…
1. I have never seen a volcano in person. Yes, I think, I would like to see it. I really like nature's wonders, so it may be interesting for me.

2. Of course they can. Some years ago an Icelandic vulcano were able to paralyze the flight traffic. I don't think they can destroy the world, but can be very dangerous or even disastrous for some regions, e.g. Pompei.

3. I can't imagine a world without vulcanoes. It will negate all the things we know about geology, tectonic plate movements or mountain formation movements.

4. Even though the Vesuvius eruption was a disaster for people of Pompei, it was only one of many ancient cities. It's hard to speculate what will happen if this volcano didn't errupt. Maybe one of Pompeians will be an important person in the ancient Roman empire or maybe nothing would change. When it comes to "what if" questions the answer is always difficult.
Nope, I've seen it in live. But this presentation intrigued me and now I want to.
In your opinion, how dangerous volcanoes can be?
Without any knowledge in this topic i couldn't tell. But after watching this, I think they are dangerous enough.
It is challenging question. As i have no knowledge in history, for me it's even harder to answer. Maybe some of the citizen would have been a vital in the ancient history.
Jakub Kisiała said…
1. I have never implemented but I would love to wither.
2. If they are not going to explode, I think they are safe. I also heard because of the earthquake sometimes.
3. Like Poland, because there are no volcanoes in Poland.
4. They were rather only small points on the map, which in my opinion did not affect the whole world. The only thing that would change was that we wouldn't know about Pompeii and that there would be more islands in Oceania.
S20108
1.Have you ever seen volano in person? Do you want to see it?
That's how I saw the volcano live. I managed to reach its peak. It was in Mexico, near Ciudad de Mexico. Combined with Mexican nature, it looked really impressive.

2.In your opinion, how dangerous volcanoes can be?
Certainly they are very dangerous especially for cities and nature located nearby. I wonder if people have ever made a major effort to prevent active volcanoes from erupting. There are many still active volcanoes close to large cities.

3.What would the world look like if there were no volcanoes?
I don't like such questions because I don't have adequate knowledge to be able to freely answer questions like "what would happen." However, I think there would certainly be an alternative.

4.How different would the world be if Pompeii and other cities, countries, islands were not destroyed by volcanoes?
I repeat what I wrote above.
However, I think that if it were so, it would be very possible that we would be as a civilization and certainly South America in a completely different, much better degree of development than today.
Have you ever seen a volcano in person? Do you want to see it?
Yes, I have. It’s a magnificent view. Seeing such a creation is a very particular experience, because you get an impression how small and fragile a human being is, and how strong, influential and timeless nature is. I would recommend to anyone to go and see a volcano, because they are very beautiful and dangerous at the same time.

In your opinion, how dangerous volcanoes can be?
They can be very dangerous. The history of Pompeii is the first thing to come to my mind. One volcano destroyed a whole city and killed thousands of people. Just looking at the images of the remainings show how strong a volcano can be and how unsafe it is to live next to one.

What would the world look like if there were no volcanoes?
I think it would be more boring and scientists would not like that one bit. Volcanoes are a great source of information on how the inside of our planet looks like and what chemical and physical reactions take place there. The landscape would also be less exciting, my example would be the scenery of Iceland. There are multiple inactive volcanoes that are now lakes, they are incredibly stunning. Even when driving by car one can see post volcanic valleys and rocks. Simply breathtaking.

How different would the world be if Pompeii and other cities, countries, islands were not destroyed by volcanoes?
It’s sad to think how many people lost their lives to volcano eruptions and the infertility of soil and animals afterwards. Unfortunately because of tragedies like that, we can learn more about how volcanoes function and how we can predict an upcoming eruption and save many lives and prevent such losses.

1.No, I've never seen the volcano in person, but if the funds allow me to do it, I would like to see the Sajama volcano live.
2.I think that the increased activity of volcanoes can significantly deteriorate air quality and prevent travel by air.
3.I think that this is a difficult question that has no clear answer because everyone can imagine a perfect world differently.
4.I think that we would know their history more accurately and be able to see, visit these cities, unless it was destroyed during the war.
1. No, I've never seen volcanoes in person, but I'd like to do it.

2. I've watched several programs about volcanoes on TV, and I know they can be very dangerous. The eruption of a large volcano can destroy not only the cities and villages near it but also change the climate of the planet. The video compared the consequences of volcanic eruptions of different power, and we saw how serious they can be. Although it happens every few tens of thousands of years, if it happens, it could be a threat to all of humanity.

3. I think our planet would have changed a lot without volcanoes. Of course, we won't worry about disasters associated with volcanoes. But I think volcanoes affect the formation of the climate on our planet and it would have changed without them. It's hard to say how things would have changed, but we can't exclude the worst.

4. Of course, this would affect the entire history of our planet. The civilizations we know might not have appeared at all. Or, for example, there could be a completely new civilization. It could change the course of history.
Kuba Berliński said…

1. No, I haven't, though I'd like to see one in the future. It could be a nice life experience.

2. They can be very dangerous. If there was a super volcano to explode, it could possibly eliminate life on our planet.

3. It's hard to say. Possiblly certain places of the world wouldn't be destroyed and some not created. There would be less power to shape the earth we know.

4. It is difficult to say. There would be one less danger to our world, however, volcanos also gave us a lot of knowledge about the earth.

1. No, I have never seen a volcano. I dont find it very atrractive. In my opinion there is a lot more interesting things to see rather than volcano. For example, it could be an chinese temple of heaven. On the other hand i think the great fall may be more interesting from the natural environment.

2. It can be very dangerous, not only the eruption of lava is dangerous but the gases. It is really dangerous and the range of it is huge.

3. To be honest i do not know. I think everything in the world has a huge impact on the today and how it looks like.

4. It will be propably totally diffrent, for example the Poland could doesnt exist. What is more maybe I would never be alive. Everthing can change the future and every person can be a world changer.
Marta Matysik said…
1. No, I haven’t, but yes I would like to see any in the future.

2. I heard about theory that when the volcano (which is under the water) erupts, then he can destroyed world. So they are very dangerous.

3. I think that the World could look completely different. There would be less islands,
the landscape would be change. I don't know what else, but it would be different.

4. I have no idea and I’ve never thought about it. There would be less tragedy above all.
I can't think 'what would happen if'.
Kristina Moroz said…
Have you ever seen volano in person? Do you want to see it?
No, I haven't, it seemed to me very interesting but also very dangerous so I don't know.

In your opinion, how dangerous volcanoes can be?
Extremely dangerous. How large amount of red-hot magma can't be dangerous?

What would the world look like if there were no volcanoes?
All that was formed by the volcanic method wouldn't exist.

How different would the world be if Pompeii and other cities, countries, islands were not destroyed by volcanoes?
There would be other history and different civilizations. The world would be completly different, you never know how would this peoples interact with others
Cem Ates said…

Have you ever seen volano in person? Do you want to see it?
Not yet, and definitely i wouldn't like to see it in action.

In your opinion, how dangerous volcanoes can be?
Very. That's not only my opinion. they are dangerous already.

What would the world look like if there were no volcanoes?

Venus is probably an example of this because it doesn't certainly have volcanoes, however there is powerful evidence that Venus has/had "resurfacing events." Venus also would not have plate tectonics, so while warmness builds up inside the mantle from radioactive decay, it finally receives to some extent in which the molten rock forces itself to the floor and covers almost the entire planet with lava. I bet you can describe that as some form if volcanism, but I suppose it's quite foreign to the sort of volcanism that we see extra frequently on Earth & different items within the Solar System.

How different would the world be if Pompeii and other cities, countries, islands were not destroyed by volcanoes?
I am not really good at history but that would definitely more different than the nowadays, every one step has been taken in a life can effect one another. Not a theory but fact, is not it?
Mateusz Szych said…
1. No, I haben't but I want to see.

2. I have heard of super volcanoes whose eruption can destroy entire continents. The entire Yellowstone Park is one super volcano.

3. It would certainly be less diverse. Rare-earth elements would be lacking, which would slow down technological development. There would be less fertile soil and fewer islands.

4. I doubt there would be many changes. That we would have less well-preserved archaeological sites.
1. Have you ever seen volano in person? Do you want to see it?
No, I never seen volano in person what is this something you eat? Ahh volcano sorry. No, I never saw one before and yes if there is chance, I would like to see one preferable active but not during the eruption.
2. In your opinion, how dangerous volcanoes can be?
Very dangerous I would say on scale from destroying a city to destroying whole life on planet.
3. What would the world look like if there were no volcanoes?
There would be no Hawaii and other similar islands, Pompeii would not be destroyed at last not by volcano.
4. How different would the world be if Pompeii and other cities, countries, islands were not destroyed by volcanoes?
I don’t think that world would be much different it’s not like they were really powerful countries, islands
Bartosz Warda said…
1. Have you ever seen volano in person? Do you want to see it?

I have never seen a volcano live. But I've seen a lot of photography movies on the subject. This is an amazing phenomenon. I would love to see one day live. I even planned a trip to the island of Tenerife, there is a special queue that you can pull up and see the volcano up close.

2. In your opinion, how dangerous volcanoes can be?

Some volcanoes in the world are not only active, but even dangerous. Some of them have not exploded for many years, but according to seismologists it is only a matter of time - and the next few years. I think they are very dangerous.

3. What would the world look like if there were no volcanoes?

A volcano is a place on the Earth's surface from which lava, gases and other materials are extracted. Probably if it wasn't for them, there wouldn't be wonderful exotic islands, sunsets.

4. How different would the world be if Pompeii and other cities, countries, islands were not destroyed by volcanoes?

I think we would have the opportunity to learn more about Pompeii culture and history. On these islands would probably live animals and maybe completely unknown species of plants.
Paweł Hadacz said…
Have you ever seen volano in person? Do you want to see it?
Unfortunately, once I had no opportunity to see the Vulcan but someday I will want to see it.
In your opinion, how dangerous volcanoes can be?
In my opinion, volcanoes can be really dangerous, I read about volcanoes that may be able to destroy life on earth or at least reduce it very much. Despite many successes in many areas and constantly expanding knowledge, people still have control over such extraordinary phenomena of nature as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, etc.
What would the world look like if there were no volcanoes?
unfortunately, the level of my current knowledge does not allow me to predict what conventions would be caused by the lack of volcanoes but from an aesthetic point of view I think that our planet would lose a lot.
How different would the world be if Pompeii and other cities, countries, islands were not destroyed by volcanoes?
Certainly many people would not die then but I think that such events would not have a great impact on the fate of humanity.
Vitalii Ohol said…
1. I've never seen a volcano. But I always wondered how it's like to stand near crater mouth. And I also want to poke magma with my leg. :)

2. Before this video I couldn't even imagine that volcanoes are so tragical for our environment. Yeah, it's dangerous for humans and cities. But most importantly it's dangerous for the environment. One volcano can wipe out the island with rare species of plants and animals. Volcano can cause winter that can be deadly problematic for every living creature in that place. Volcanoes are horrifying.

3. Lack of volcanoes means no magma movement below the planet's surface. It means no hills, no mountains, no volcanic plateau, no ravines, and most importantly, no species of animals, and plants, that can live only in mountainous areas.

4. We will have some new islands, cities, maybe new people, new traditions, new species of animals, and some new plants. But we wouldn't know this because everything already lost.
Have you ever seen volano in person? Do you want to see it?
Yes i have seen a volcano before. I have seen Wesuwiusz in Itali, the one that coverd Pompei in ashes.

In your opinion, how dangerous volcanoes can be?
For sure the volcanos can be dangerous for us. For egzample the Islandic volcano that paralized flight all over the europe. And it wasnt the biggest one on earth. There are a lot of bigger volcanos like supervulcano under yellowstone park in USA.

What would the world look like if there were no volcanoes?
It probably didnt change much in our behaviour.

How different would the world be if Pompeii and other cities, countries, islands were not destroyed by volcanoes?
I dont think it make a big difference for the mankind. I think that there should be no change.
Denys Pogurskyi said…
1. Have you ever seen volano in person? Do you want to see it?
I have never seen volcanoes alive and am not eager to see him, because knowing what luck I have, it is most likely because of me that a volcano will begin to act ...
2. In your opinion, how dangerous volcanoes can be?
Well, very disastrous, I suppose.
3. What would the world look like if there were no volcanoes?
I can’t imagine.
4. How different would the world be if Pompeii and other cities, countries, islands were not destroyed by volcanoes?
I don’t think that the world would have changed too directly from this...
Mateusz Hefner said…
1.Have you ever seen volano in person? Do you want to see it?
I have never seen any and I would like it to stay that way. I don't like risking my life just to see something in person.

2.In your opinion, how dangerous volcanoes can be?
Vulcanoes proved in cards of history that they are strongly dangerous for people so the far you are from them the better for you.

3.What would the world look like if there were no volcanoes?
It's hard to say but for sure history would change and maybe now we would have world war 3 or something worse.

4.How different would the world be if Pompeii and other cities, countries, islands were not destroyed by volcanoes?
As I said above it's impossible to check but I think horrible things would happen in the cards of history.

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