Summary:
A natural disaster is a direct consequence of a natural hazard such as a volcanic eruption, an earthquake or a landslide which evolve from the probability stage to an active phase and consequently affect human activities and the environment. The present thesis aims to study the health and environmental impacts of major volcanic eruptions. In Greece, there is an intense activity with several volcanoes mainly located in the Active Volcanic Arc of the southern Aegean. An attempt will be made to study the impacts of volcanic eruptions on Greece such as Santorini, Nisyros and worldwide (Yellowstone, Mount Vesuvius, Pinatubo) and to report on early monitoring systems.
Initially, a reference will be made as for the volcano, its features and parts as well as the action of the volcanoes. An analysis will be made for the conditions of its formation and the factors that contribute to the final eruption of the volcano. We will also refer to the types and forms of volcanoes that make it active, inactive or dormant.
Subsequently, the volcano monitoring systems will be analyzed for the possibility of detecting soil deformation, telescopic, remote sensing information as well as technologies offered for thermal radiation and seismic monitoring.
In addition, a detailed presentation on the historical evolution and volcanic activity of some of the most famous volcanoes such as Santorini, Nisyros, Vesuvius, Yellowstone and Pinatubo volcano will be given, analyzing the impact they have had on human life and the environment keeping in mind the facts of life then and today.
Finally, the integrated Volcanic Monitoring Network will be introduced through the Study and Monitoring action and will further refer to the importance of the various systems developed in order to avoid catastrophic impacts on humans and the built environment.
Keywords:
Volcano, Volcanic activity, Monitoring systems, Eruption, Health, Environment
