Science Questions

Is there any way to stop a volcanic eruption?

Is there any way to stop or alter an eruption once it’s got going? Edzel Heinkel, Second Life

Marie -The quick answer to that is no. I think it would be foolhardy at best to try and interfere with the processes going on in a volcano. There have been instances of people trying to divert lava flows, for example, by spraying water on then and blowing them up with explosives –

Chris - And building canal systems for them to run into preferentially.

Marie - That’s right but actually trying to alter active processes at the vent wouldn’t be advised.

June 2008