Can earth scientists predict earthquakes and volcanoes?
Monitoring and studying volcanoes and seismic activity allows scientists to learn more about the processes responsible for these natural hazards. Vulcanologists can already detect early signs of increased activity within magma chambers and can alert people to the possibility of an eruption, as has happened at Mount Merapi in Indonesia in 2006. NERC scientists are carrying out studies in the area around the Sumatra earthquake responsible for the Boxing Day tsunami so that we can learn about the causes not only the causes of the earthquakes but also secondary effects such as tsunamis. The ultimate aim being to predict these events and give people a chance to prepare.
