More bang for your buck: Volcanoes and Earthquakes

Ever wondered if you would be here if it weren’t for volcanoes? If not, then this unusual talk is for you. I will cram as much volcanology into ten or fifteen minutes as is humanly possible. Why volcanoes matter; how your ancestors grew up in their shadow; where to take your next holiday; and how a super-eruption might ruin your day are among the questions answered.

Many of the World's ocean islands have formed as a result of volcanic activity. Their global distribution is not random but controlled by processes at the Earth's core-mantle boundary. A unique example of the intimate link between Earth's deep and surface processes is spectacularly displayed in Galapagos. The volcanic islands, formed by a thermal anomaly anchored at the base of the mantle (2900 km), deflect ocean currents that in turn cause the unique diversity of fauna and flora. The equatorial position and biodiversity of Galapagos make it highly sensitive to changes in our planet's climate.

People are dying in earthquakes around the world at an ever increasing rate, mainly due to large populations concentrating in seismically active areas with unsafe buildings. In this talk I will describe the science we can use to work out what happens in an earthquake. I will then explain how we can recognise the effects of past earthquakes preserved in the landscape, and how their signs tell us about future earthquakes. Finally, I will end on an optimistic note by explaining the steps that can be taken to dramatically reduce earthquake-related fatalities.