   Zip-lining into a volcano sounds like something for adventure tourism, but for these researchers it’s all part of a day’s work. A motley conglomeration of explorers, volcanologists, GE, and the Nicaraguan government have banded together to bring the Masaya volcano in Nicaragua into the 21st century, by installing sensors that can compile huge amounts of data and make it available not only to volcanologists, but also to policy makers and the public. There are many volcanos that have been laden with seismic sensors to measure ground shaking (a sign that magma is moving under the surface) or to measure the gasses that come out of a volcano, but there are few places in the world that have the resources to install the valuable sensors in one of the most volatile environments on Earth, much less the labor and expertise to continuously monitor the incoming information. But researchers want to be able to monitor volcanos because of their destructive potential. Being able to disseminate information about the status of a volcano before an eruption occurs could save countless lives. One of the reasons this volcano was chosen for monitoring is its proximity of Managua—everyone would prefer that the capital city of Nicaragua remained the capital city, and not a modern-day Pompeii. The last eruption of that magnitude happened 1,800 years ago, and some scientists worry that it could happen again relatively soon. Currently, a team of people are in Nicaragua, installing over 80 sensors along the side of the volcano. “The main sensors we are connecting will be gas sensors and also atmospheric sensors,” says Guillermo Caravantes, a volcanologist on the project. The gas sensors will be looking at hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide being emitted from the volcano, which can tell geologists more about the composition of the lava. Other sensors will measure atmospheric pressure, humidity, and temperature, and the movement of the magma inside the volcano. Seismometers that measure movement and gravity data will be enclosed in an airtight box the size of alunchbox. There is a long way to go before the collected data can be turned into the kind of in depth early warning system that countries have in place for tsunamis or tornados, but in the mean time researchers are gathering all the information they can from an unusual number of sources. The researchers are also using drones to take measurements in the volcano — which is becoming a popular way to look inside a volcano without risking human health — and to take air samples inside the volcano. Also, in the sky above Masaya is a helicopter provided by the Nicaraguan government. It will still be up to local officials and the government of Nicaragua to issue warnings and interpret the data that comes in, in the event that an eruption is imminent. Of course, being able to predict eruptions definitively is still a goal that remains out of reach for volcanologists. Volcanoes all have different compositions, and many have different kinds of eruptive patterns. There is no one-size-fits-all red flag for volcanoes around the world. But sensor systems like this can help gather more information, and potentially help scientists look for patterns that could one day help us decode this explosive part of life on our planet. SOURCE: This Is What It Takes To Connect A Volcano To The Internet | Popular Science |
