Display:
Are there any plausible estimates as to the possible scale of the next Vesuvius eruption? It's become if anything even scarier, with recent archeological evidence of the 1780 B.C. eruption, that burried Naples itself.
by gk (g k quattro due due sette "at" gmail.com) on Fri Oct 17th, 2008 at 07:47:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Not one plausible estimate. The only guarantee to you is that the longer Vesuvius is quiet, the more severe the next eruption will be.

Eruptions of Vesuvius always were dramatic, destructive and very sudden prior to the lull since ~1944 - and now for the worrying bit: the period of quiescence is one of the volcano's longest in recent history.

Of course Vesuvius could also sleep for another 200, 400, 500 years.

There is an evacuation plan which looks fine - on paper. What struck me immediately when I first read about it, is that it is run on the 1631 eruption - which was not by any standard the most severe eruption, and I'm not the only one to point that out.

Or am I a doom-monger now? Though everyone seems to love doom-p0rn these days.

by Nomad on Fri Oct 17th, 2008 at 09:03:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]
recent archeological evidence of the 1780 B.C. eruption

Link? Would be very interested.

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.

by DoDo on Fri Oct 17th, 2008 at 11:39:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Here's a link to a 2006 NY Times article.
by gk (g k quattro due due sette "at" gmail.com) on Fri Oct 17th, 2008 at 11:59:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Display:
Login
. Make a new account
. Reset password
Occasional Series