Volcanic Activity and Geology

With moves to end the use of fossil fuels and coal mining, concern over carbon emissions, extraction of earth resources, and climate change impacts has brought earth sciences to the fore. As part of our research journey, we will be talking with Dr Natasha Dowey, an associate professor in Sustainable Geoscience and Volcanology at Sheffield Hallam University.

Natasha intends to give our project an overview of volcano geology and activity, and how volcanoes impact our world.

I have heard that blast furnace temperatures reached more than 1500 degrees centigrade during the steel-making process – the same temperature as an active volcano! In mythological terms, eruptions occur when Vulcan is angry, so volcanoes are a meaningful link to our film narrative.

Natasha has also offered us a tour of her geology collection… another potential stimulus for our Cradle of Fire film. Although Natasha’s favoured volcano structures are ‘submarine smokers’  (her quote!), she works with colleagues who research Mt Etna, the mythological home of the gods, including Vulcan of course. A great connection!  Etna is the highest volcano in Europe – Photo Holger Uwe Schmitt, Creative Commons

Blog by Diana Scarborough and Cradle of Fire