North Korea's nuclear test 'could jolt volcano back to life'
Source: Telegraph
Experts say one of Mount Paekdu's previous eruptions was 'one of the largest explosive events in human history'
Seismologists have warned that North Korea's repeated nuclear tests could cause Mount Paekdu to erupt - and they add that one of the volcano's previous eruptions was "one of the largest explosive events in human history".
More than 9,000 feet high, the volcano straddles the border between North Korea and China and last erupted in 1903. Experts have warned of increasing seismic activity beneath the peak in recent years, however, including seismic uplift and rising levels of sulphur dioxide, suggesting that the magma chamber is expanding.
Just 72 miles from North Korea's Punggye-ri proving grounds - where satellite images suggest that Pyongyang may already be ready to carry out a fifth underground nuclear test - scientists believe another detonation could jolt the dormant volcano back into life.
In a paper published in Nature, four South Korean scientists, led by Hong Tae-kyung, stated, "Strong ground motions induce large dynamic stress changes that may disturb the magma chamber of a volcano, thus accelerating the volcanic activity.
<snip>
Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/12162388/North-Koreas-nuclear-test-could-jolt-volcano-back-to-life.html
rjsquirrel
(4,762 posts)would solve one problem anyway.
Bernardo de La Paz
(49,010 posts)And you are needlessly obscure.
Renew Deal
(81,861 posts)Orrex
(63,216 posts)And then they'll be sorry.
daleo
(21,317 posts)Those were in Alaska, I believe.
"Amchitka was selected by the United States Atomic Energy Commission to be the site for underground detonations of nuclear weapons. Three such tests were carried out: Long Shot, an 80-kiloton (330 TJ) blast in 1965; Milrow, a 1-megaton (4.2 PJ) blast in 1969; and Cannikin in 1971 at 5 Mt (21 PJ), the largest underground test ever conducted by the United States. The tests were highly controversial, with environmental groups fearing that the Cannikin explosion, in particular, would cause severe earthquakes and tsunamis. Amchitka is no longer used for nuclear testing. It is still monitored for the leakage of radioactive materials."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amchitka
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)It's just like fracking. Messing with the earth is going to cause changes which have consequences. I suppose if it does erupt they can always blame the US.
Wednesdays
(17,380 posts)When I first read the headline, I thought they were writing figuratively.
leftyladyfrommo
(18,868 posts)end up encased in lava like Pompeii. They deserve to come to a bad end. But I really feel badly for the people in North Korea. They have awful lives and it is no fault of their own.
Jopin Klobe
(779 posts)... one copies one's Masters ...