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Next Wednesday (26 August), Mallard Days tutor and volcanologist Hannah Wynn will be leading a discussion on volcanic monitoring and prediction throughout history at the Literary and Philosophical Society in Newcastle.
The event starts at 6pm, and is free of charge.
Throughout history, volcanic eruptions have been witnessed and described by man. In the early days, this was done through stories and songs, attributing the eruption to the gods, rather than nature. Over time, stories began to be written down, and people started to become interested in the science behind what happened. One of the most famous early accounts of a volcanic eruption is that written by Pliny the elder (and, after his death, his nephew – Pliny the younger). This talk aims to outline the history of volcanic observation and monitoring before discussing modern day operations, including the science of eruption prediction.
There will also be a section concentrating on how the interiors of volcanoes are modelled (and how this benefits monitoring programs). Various case studies will be discussed, including Hawaii and Vesuvius.   After the talk, there will be an opportunity to examine various mineral specimens, as well as volcanic rocks from Tenerife.
To find out more, and to download a free ticket, visit www.litandphil.org.uk/whats-on/ or the event’s Facebook page.