When Will A Volcano Erupt?

Most volcanoes give some warnings before eruptions begin, although an explosive eruption could occur without warning.

• Earthquakes, caused by magma moving upwards.
• Changes in temperature of ground and surrounding water.
• Steam rising from the ground.

People living near volcanoes may detect warning signs before an eruption.

• Many of the warning signs used to detect and predict eruptions are small. Scientists uses special tools and equipment to detect these changes.
• With a seisometer a scientist can detect earthquakes associated with rising magma.
• Scientists may monitor ground temperatures and gases coming from the ground.

Can you detect where, when and how big an eruption may be?

• Scientists who monitor the area must make a decision in time to warn and evacuate people from threatened areas and to try to minimise the effects of an eruption. It is hard to predict.
• Even though volcanologist can predict where an eruption might happen, it is very hard to predict how big it might be.
• It is hard to predict when a volcano will happen. The warning signs that scientists monitor can go on for weeks, months, even years before an eruption happens.
• Sometimes the changes can go away and an eruption doesn't happen.