Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Geology, Palaeontology & Archaeology => Topic started by: The Scientist on 11/07/2010 15:11:20

Title: What are the advantages or disadvantages of a volcano?
Post by: The Scientist on 11/07/2010 15:11:20

Please share your views with us. Thank you for participating!

Title: What are the advantages or disadvantages of a volcano?
Post by: Bass on 11/07/2010 17:36:02

Not exactly sure what you mean by "advantages and disadvantages of a volcano"...

The obvious disadvantage is the hazard posed by volcanic eruptions- Pompeii is an example of a volcanic disaster.

Advantages- gases escaping from volcanoes formed the atmosphere.  Volcanic soils are rich in nutrients which is important for agriculture.  Most metallic mineral deposits form from hydrothermal (hot water) activity near volcanoes.

Title: What are the advantages or disadvantages of a volcano?
Post by: tjiayu on 15/02/2011 21:36:23

Hmm.. Advantages brought about by volcanoes are the formation of volcanic island such as Hawaii,
and also bringing about fertile soil. If there were no volcanic eruption,
I guessed there is no Hawaii as a tourist attraction now.

Disadvantages are destruction of infrastructures as well as lives.
There is also air pollution which might become a discomfort to people.
Sometimes, the destruction can be very costly to the country in terms of monetary as well as lives.

Title: What are the advantages or disadvantages of a volcano?
Post by: BiologyChemistryPhysics on 11/10/2011 18:48:34

At school, I am doing an assessment about volcanoes, and we have to work out if they are helpful, or plain dangerous. These are the dis/advantages I have come up with:
Advantages – Precious minerals; geothermal energy; fertile soil; tourism (jobs); beauty products; souvenirs.
Disadvantages – Destruction during eruptions; magma/ash destroys everything; earthquakes; pollution; sea life; quarries.
I am expanding on each idea...
My conclusion is that volcanoes are definately our friends, as they're a lot more helpful than not.

Title: What are the advantages or disadvantages of a volcano?
Post by: Bass on 11/10/2011 19:21:02

Short term- volcanoes are disruptive (destruction, ash, global cooling, gases, etc)
Long term is where one sees the advantages of volcanic systems.

Title: What are the advantages or disadvantages of a volcano?
Post by: CliffordK on 11/10/2011 20:07:51

Don't forget, the volcanoes can also be LETHAL in the short-term.

I believe volcanic ash is relatively fertile, even a short period of time (few years to a few decades) after the volcano blast.  But, all in moderation.  Due to its depth and drainage, the Pumice Desert has been slow in recovering from the Mt. Mazama eruption 7000 years ago.

Lava can be a harsh environment for plants to grow in, and it may take thousands of years for trees and plants to take hold.

Title: What are the advantages or disadvantages of a volcano?
Post by: Airthumbs on 11/10/2011 22:19:43

Advantages:  A good place to sit and view things from when inactive, a future source of thermal energy, I think volcanoes form an important part in the water cycle but I could be wrong, a great way to scare the locals into giving you money if your a cunning caveman, an easy way to give someone directions.... "my house is just next to the volcano you can't miss it"!

Disadvantages:  Sometimes it can get very hot!  Good at concealing approaching enemies, high reward living with luscious plant life but risky spot to grow a city! Frequent eruptions, in a time period, would increase global dimming, thus making data from long term climatalogical studies on the climate, skewed.

 [;D]