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 Tuesday, February 23 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. -->
• 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.