Assignment 5: Humans and Volcanic Eruptions - Presentation on Effects

This presentation delves into the multifaceted relationship between humans and volcanic eruptions. It begins by outlining the immediate impacts, such as the emission of harmful gases leading to respiratory problems, the threat to aviation, and the destruction of property and loss of life. The presentation also highlights positive effects, including soil enrichment and potential water sources. It then details crucial precautions for those living near volcanoes, like wearing protective clothing and avoiding driving during eruptions. The presentation emphasizes the unpredictability of volcanic events while acknowledging that human activities have little influence on eruptions. The conclusion stresses the need for caution and preparedness, while also recognizing the potential for farming activities in volcanic areas, provided that precautions are taken. The presentation is based on research from various publications.

Humans and volcanic eruptionHumans and volcanic eruption

Introduction
• Volcanic eruptions is the act in which gas and lava
discharges from the volcanic vent. The discharges
of these gases has a severe effect to the
surrounding.
• The receivers of the gas are always animals and
human beings around that particular place.
However, the eruption of the lava causes
destruction of the vegetation around the place and
even human beings get it harder to survive in the
area.

Aim of the discussion
• The aim of this presentation is to elaborate the
effect of volcanic eruption to human being. Apart
from that, it will elaborate how human activities
can influence volcanic eruption.
• However, since volcanic eruption causes more
destruction, it is important to list the precautions
that human being should check at when there is
volcanic eruption.

Negative effects of volcanic eruption
to humans
• There is emission of harmful gases such as the
carbon dioxide and the Sulphur dioxide. The
constant effect of these gases causes respiratory
problems to human beings.
• The volcanic eruptions are threat to pilots who
move the aircraft around the affected areas. For
example, when the lava gets into the plane
engines, it take control. The pilot would have a
difficult time in directing the flight (Baxter and
Horwell,2015: p.1040).

Continuation on effects
• Death is another serious effect of volcanic
eruption. What causes death is the limitation of
oxygen by the gases from volcanic eruption. Apart
from that, there is ash that comes from the
volcanoes, it covers roads and homes, there is no
activity that can go on.
• Destruction of property like crops is evident after
eruption. It proves difficult for human beings to
survive after the evident.

Positive effects of volcanic eruption
to humans
• The first positive effect that volcanoes provide
nutrients to the soil which assist humans to get
more yields from farm. The ashes get into the soil
and quickly breaks down to improve soil fertility.
• The gases produced from the volcanic eruption are
source of water as they condense in the
atmosphere and flow back as rainfall.
• Volcanic eruption assist in removing the excessive
heat from the atmosphere.

Precautions to people living near
volcanoes
• Always put on long sleeved clothes when there is
an eruption because the ashes damages the skin.
• The ash may cover the roof tops, therefore it is
important to remove them but wear googles and
gloves.
• Avoid driving as the ashes can damage the
engines of the motor vehicle.
• Do not live on the lower parts of the mountains as
they are the places the ashes flows after eruption
(Cole-Dai, J., Peterson,Kennedy, Cox and Ferris,
2018: p.8375).

Predictability of volcanic eruption
• It is not easy to predict when volcanic eruptions
are going to take place.
• There are some signs such as surface deformation
and high gas flux.
• From scientists, human activities rarely affect
volcanic eruptions as they happen at
unpredictable times.

Conclusion
• There both negative and positive effects of
volcanic eruptions to humans.
• The negative effects are severe and humans need
to take cautions when settling near mountains.
• Apart from the negative effects there are positive
effects such as increased fertility of farms.
• It is important to use volcanic areas for farming
activities rather than settling.
• However, if people settles in the places they
should ensure they follow the precautions during
eruptions

References
• Baxter, P.J. and Horwell, C.J., 2015. Impacts of
eruptions on human health. In The Encyclopedia
of Volcanoes (Second Edition) (pp. 1035-1047).
• Cole-Dai, J., Peterson, K.M., Kennedy, J.A., Cox,
T.S. and Ferris, D.G., 2018. Evidence of Influence
of Human Activities and Volcanic Eruptions on
Environmental Perchlorate from a 300-Year
Greenland Ice Core Record. Environmental
Science & Technology, 52(15), pp.8373-8380.