Der Spiegel: Geologists Warning Of “Mega-Eruption”

Der Spiegal via NoTricksZone ^ | 5 November, 2010 | P Gosselin

[Errant]

A jökulhlaup from Grímsvötn

[katana]

Iceland and Indonesia are quite far apart. The former is the part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge that peeks out above sea level and the latter sits atop the Ring of Fire. Two unrelated geologic systems.

[SE Mom]

I had no idea this was potentially this bad. Thanks for posting.

[RayChuang88]

However, Toba is a VASTLY bigger volcano than Merapi. Indeed, a fairly large lake is the entire caldera of Toba. When Toba erupted circa 75,000 years ago, it spewed out not 15 cubic miles of volcanic ash, but over TEN times that, effectively blocking out sunlight on the Earth's surface for nearly a year. That's why Toba is classed as a supervolcano.

[Smokin' Joe]

Not a dumb question, and although not close, they are distant cousins. The subduction of oceanic crustal plates beneath continental crustal plates is the driving force which creates these volcanoes. The one in Alaska may be on the other side of the Pacific, but they are distant relatives. For more information on plate tectonics, island arc volcanoes, and seafloor spreading, look here: JMU Fichter.

[IM2MAD]

Please include sources for your pictures. Thanks.

[Mouton]

Just exactly when is the Great One visiting Indonesia on this vacation? Not sure whether he can talk it back to sleep.

[IM2MAD]

And perhaps a word or two of description. Thanks for the images.

[Errant]

Please include sources for your pictures.

Der Spiegel. You can right click on the image then click on properties in the menu that appears and view the URL.

[roses of sharon]

Yes, of course...it was Iceland, thanks for the info everyone, I am going to read up about these volcanoes.

And good thread, the pics are heartbreaking..prayers for the children there. So sad.

[Errant]

And perhaps a word or two of description

Will do in the future. Thanks for the advice. E

[DeaconBenjamin]

They were from the Spiegel article.

[silverleaf]

not good

Didn’t Krakatoa change the world climate?

[silverleaf]

that was Iceland

[bert]

We had the first snow this morning in East Tennessee

[Errant]

Yes, 535 AD — The "Dark Ages" Begin – Scientific Growth Stops !

[KosmicKitty]

Looks like a bunch of sheep in need of shearing to me.

[RaceBannon]

No, that was Iceland, 180 degrees apart on the planet! :)

[MurrietaMadman]

A real life remake of a Tom Hanks movie...BO Versus the Volcano

[Natural Law]

You are absolutely right. My point was only that the Indonesian volcanoes have a history of significantly affecting climate and with it global economies. I don't expect a Toba event, but I don't want to underestimate the potential for problems either.

How did you get the emoticon into your post?