The Assignment

• Read the section "Cooling the Lava" in John McPhee's The Control of Nature. Take notes and be prepared to discuss it in detail on Thursday, October 7 in class.
  Think about questions such as these:
  • What was the timeline of events? How much warning did the residents of Heimaey have? Would they have had more warning with modern geologic equipment and understanding of volcanic processes?
  • What actions were taken in the immediate aftermath of the intial eruption? Who was in charge?
  • What considerations led to the decision to try to cool the lava? Who made these decisions and who participated in the discussion?
  • What were the risks and uncertainties of attempting to cool the lava? How successful was the effort? Were there any negative consequences of the action?
  • Were you pulling for the town or the lava? Why?
  • How has the Icelanders' experience solidified or changed your views about man's efforts to control nature?
  • How would Americans deal with a similar threat in Hawaii today? Who would be responsible for making decisions and taking action? Citizens? Local/State/National Government?
• Have a look around from the summit of Eldfell.
• Watch this 30 minute video of the eruption.
• Explore the town in this GigaPan by Ben Kinsley:
• Read what the United States Geologic Survey's Volcano Hazards Program has to say about other types of Volcanic Hazards.
• For more background on volcanic processes in general, read about How Volcanoes Work from San Diego State University.