Sentinel Digital Desk
Italy's infamous Vesuvius has maintained its ominous presence ever since unleashing a catastrophic eruption in 79 CE, which entombed the city of Pompeii. According to the Smithsonian Institute/USGS Global Volcanic Program database, this volatile volcano has experienced a total of eight significant explosive eruptions accompanied by massive pyroclastic flows over the course of the past 17,000 years.
According to the USGS, Mount Rainier possesses several factors that make it particularly concerning. These include its elevated position, chemical makeup, close proximity to the suburbs of Seattle and Tacoma in Washington, and its capacity to generate powerful pyroclastic flows, lava flows, and volcanic ash. The intense heat emitted by Mount Rainier's lava flows has the potential to melt the snow and ice covering the volcano, resulting in a swift downhill movement of mud, rocks, and debris known as a lahar.
Situated within Alaska's Katmai National Park and Preserve, the Novarupta volcano emerged in 1912 through an eruption of unprecedented magnitude in the twentieth century. This cataclysmic event expelled approximately 30 cubic kilometers of ash and debris into the atmosphere, generating an immensely powerful ash flow that shaped the renowned Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes.
Nestled within a densely populated region of the Philippines, Mount Pinatubo gained notoriety due to a significant eruption in 1991, marking the second-largest eruption of the twentieth century, following closely after Novarupta. Despite its lack of previous explosive eruptions, the 1991 event proved devastating, claiming the lives of at least 722 individuals. The eruption unleashed pyroclastic flows that shaped a caldera filled with lakes within the volcano's vicinity.
Washington's Mount St. Helens experienced a catastrophic eruption in 1980, which stands as the deadliest and most devastating volcanic event in the history of the United States. The eruption claimed the lives of fifty-seven individuals, along with countless animals, while obliterating approximately 200 square miles of forested land.
Situated in Indonesia, Mount Agung remains in a state of perpetual eruption. Its last significant eruption occurred in 1963, making it one of the most destructive volcanic events ever recorded in the country. The eruption spanned a staggering 11 months, during which it unleashed perilous ash fall and pyroclastic flows. Tragically, the eruption resulted in over 1,000 fatalities and caused extensive damage to properties in the surrounding areas.
According to a report from Oregon State University's Volcano World program, Japan's renowned Mount Fuji has remained dormant since 1707, believed to have been triggered by a significant earthquake earlier that year. However, in 2014, experts issued a warning that Fuji was susceptible to another eruption due to the powerful 9.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan in 2011.
Mount Merapi, recognized as one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, has exhibited a persistent state of eruption for centuries. As indicated by NASA, the primary hazard associated with Merapi is the occurrence of pyroclastic flows, which have the potential to extend across vast regions and pose a significant threat to human populations.