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Watching an erupting volcano
is an exciting experience. There are those who are so fascinated
by volcanoes that they have decided to
pursue
a career in the field called volcanology.
Vocanologists study active,
dormant and extinct volcanoes in a scientific manner in order to
find out how, why, and when volcanoes erupt. They also study the
effects/impact of
eruptions on the population and environment.
Volcanology is like detective work where
evidence is gathered
together and the facts worked out. It is a field which overlaps
many areas of science, including
earth sciences, chemistry and geography.
The eruption of Krakatoa in Indonesia in 1883
was
one of the most significant in the history of volcanology
as it was the first to be studied in the modern era. The
eruption create the largest explosion
ever heard and produced tsunamis, or
huge/giant
waves which killed more than 30,000 people. Krakatoa
continues to be active to this day, and Indonesia has the most
active volcanoes in the world.
How do you become a volcanologist ? Training begins with a
Bachelor of Science degree. Further research may
lead
to a Masters of Science or a Doctor of Philosophy
degree.
Volcanology is a challenging and an
exciting career that offers much action and suspense.
Places of employment also
include teaching and doing research in universities. You can
also work in volcano
observatories, or in government departments that create civil
defense contingency plans. That means
you have to work out plans for emergency
evacuations
in times of a dangerous volcano eruption. |
