Galeras tragedy

The Galeras tragedy occurred when six

At the time of the eruption, most predictions were made similarly to the one before the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens—that a volcano would erupt, but not specifying an exact time. C. Dan Miller of the United States Geological Survey remarked:^[4]

We're able to do a much better job of monitoring the changes that occur at volcanoes as they wake up, but we are still quite a long ways from being able to forecast the time, the magnitude and the character of an eruption.

Since the disaster, research has improved scientists' ability to predict volcanic eruptions. Still, there is not a definite method of prediction. Though scientists were able to make accurate analysis by employing long-period earthquakes, short bursts of seismic energy, to forecast the 1990 eruption of Mount Redoubt in Alaska, these events are known to occur at volcanoes that do not erupt as well. In early October 2004, for example, long-period events took place at Mount St. Helens, only to precede insignificant events.^[4] One lasting and tangible outcome of the tragedy, was a set of recommendations for the standards of safety equipment and clothing that should be required when working on active volcanoes; including hard hats and fire-proof coveralls.^[5]

References