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Volcano's Deadly Warning
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Program Overview
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Scientists have long worked to find reliable prediction methods for
volcanic eruptions. NOVA chronicles scientists' efforts in this
area, focusing on one volcanologist's unique way of predicting
eruptions.
The program:
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recounts the 1985 eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in
Colombia, Mexico, which killed 25,000 people.
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explains different methods used to predict eruptions, such as
looking at distinct seismic signals and surface gas monitoring.
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introduces Dr. Bernard Chouet, who looks at a unique kind of
seismic signal to predict eruptions, called a long-period event,
that is characterized by a slow onset and gradual ending.
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indicates how long-period events may signal pressure buildup
created by magma and gas pushing into a volcano.
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describes how researchers monitoring surface gas data concluded
that Colombia's Galeras volcano was safe to visit; the volcano
later erupted, killing nine people.
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chronicles the successful evacuation, based on the use of
Chouet's method, of villages near Mexico's Popocatépetl
volcano before its December 2000 eruption.
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