Predicting Earthquakes And Volcanic Eruptions May 6, 2010

This weekend’s 7.2-magnitude earthquake in Mexico with aftershocks that reached Southern California, the devastating earthquake in Chile, and the recent eruption of Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland are all reminders of the power of geological events. Join Stephen Malone of the Department of Earth and Space Science at the University of Washington as he discusses the state-of-the-art technology behind predicting these phenomena. Learn about the advances scientists have made in predicting volcanic eruptions and the many challenges they continue to face while attempting to forecast earthquakes.

Dr. Malone will detail his research about the “warning signs” that volcanoes produce to help estimate eruptions weeks in advance. Learn how this knowledge has led to several successful predictions that have aided in evacuations prior to the eruptions. Dr. Malone will also discuss why it is more difficult to anticipate earthquakes, despite advances in the field that help scientists pinpoint locations with increased risk.

Introduced by Museum Curator Edward Mathez from the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, this lecture is co-presented with IRIS/SSA Distinguished Lecture Series.

Linder Theater
Enter at 77th Street

$10 adults, $8 members, students, seniors