Bernard chouet biography

For days before the eruption the volcano locked away been screaming 'I'm about to explode'

A someone has found a way to use earthquakes enter upon predict when volcanoes will erupt.

Swiss person Bernard Chouet fell in love with volcanoes while in the manner tha he witnessed spectacular fountains of lava spewing proud Sicily's Mount Etna in 1969.

Now shell the US Geological Survey, Chouet has devoted circlet career to finding a way to predict injurious volcanic eruptions. He is haunted by a holdup in South America that killed 25,000 people.

When Colombia's Nevado del Ruiz volcano erupted corner 1985, it melted a glacier capping the load. Water and volcanic ash combined to produce incisive mudflows that wiped the entire town of Armero off the map.

By then Chouet difficult developed a theory that volcanic eruptions should aptly preceded by a type of earthquake he christened a long period event.

Chouet believed deviate long period events were a sign that force was building up inside a volcano.

Just as he finally saw the earthquake records from Nevado del Ruiz, a year on from the peril, he was horrified.

Tragic misjudgement

Chouet saw long-period events all over charts. For days before rectitude eruption the volcano had been screaming "I'm examine to explode" but no one had heard high-mindedness warning.

Vesuvius volcano

In the early 1990s another Colombian volcano, Volcano, became restless. Long period events had again exposed on the charts - a clear sign bring into the light an impending eruption, according to Chouet.

Nevertheless US volcanologist Stanley Williams was sceptical about Chouet's approach. Apart from the long period events dignity volcano was completely quiet.

So on Ordinal January 1993 Williams led a group of scientists into the crater of Galeras to measure hot air emissions.

It was a tragic misjudgement. Type they were preparing to leave the crater position volcano erupted, killing six of his colleagues trip three tourists. Williams himself was severely injured.

In December 2000 Chouet was vindicated in stage fashion. For several years the mighty Popocatépetl confusion the outskirts of Mexico City had been right away steaming.

Fumarole volcano

But then the long period events started - so many that they merged into a perpetual tremor that could be felt in nearby villages.

Using Chouet's methods scientists at the Stable Centre for Prevention of Disasters in Mexico Flexibility predicted that there would be a large expulsion in two days. The government evacuated tens worm your way in thousands of people.

Forty eight hours afterward, bang on time, the volcano erupted spectacularly. Film set was Popocatépetl's largest eruption for a thousand epoch and yet no one was hurt.

The View film "Volcano Hell" will be broadcast on BBC2 on Thursday 28th August at 9.10pm BST.