KQ5: Managing volcanoes: Italy

Question 1

What plate boundary does Italy lie on?

Answer 1

Where African and Eurasian plate meet

Question 2

What has been done to modify event in Italy from a volcanic eruption?

Answer 2

1. Earth barriers
2. large concrete blocks thrown into the lava flow
3. channels dug to divert lava away from settlement

Question 3

What does the work of CFCRV (Volcanic risk service) include?

Answer 3

1. Analysing eruption patterns of Volcanoes in the LT
2. Constant monitoring e.g. tilt meters, seismometers and analysis of gas emissions, satellite survey e.g. infra red to detect heat and daily and weekly bulletins
3. closure of airports and air space during release of ash
4. identifying homes at risk and offering affordable solutions e.g. adding a pitched roof to shed ash fall
5. a well established alert level sequence recognised by emergency services, governments and communities

Question 4

How can loss be modified for mount etna?

Answer 4

In the past homes, farms, lemon and orange groves as well as tourist facilities have been destroyed. Although the government of Italy has enough resources to compensate loss and restore infrastructure. Casualties have been minimal due to timely evacuation and well trained public services such as military and fire service

Question 5

How can loss be modified for mount Vesuvius?

Answer 5

1. challenges due to its position in Naples
2. 600,000 people live in the red zone where survival rates are estimated to be low if there was a similar eruption to that which destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum
3. The volcano is closely monitored however confidence in accurately predicting eruption is low
4. Evacuation routes are in place but are criticised due to being inadequate and poorly understood by the public, a mistake in false alarms can be a significant economic gamble.