Minor volcanic eruptions could ’cascade’ into global catastrophe, experts warn

Clouds of ash rising up from the Eyjafjallajökull eruption in 2010 Credit: Bjarki Sigursveinsson Researchers call for a shift in focus away from risks of "super-volcanic" eruptions and towards likelier scenarios of smaller eruptions in key global "pinch points" creating devastating domino effects. We need to move away from thinking in terms of colossal eruptions destroying the world, as portrayed in Hollywood films Lara Mani Currently, much of the thinking around risks posed by volcanoes follows a simple equation: the bigger the likely eruption, the worse it will be for society and human welfare. However, a team of experts now argues that too much focus is on the risks of massive yet rare volcanic explosions, while far too little attention is paid to the potential domino effects of moderate eruptions in key parts of the planet. Researchers led by the University of Cambridge's Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER) have identified seven "pinch points" where clusters of relatively small but active volcanoes sit alongside vital infrastructure that, if paralyzed, could have catastrophic global consequences. These regions include volcano groups in Taiwan, North Africa, the North Atlantic, and the northwestern United States.          "Even a minor eruption in one of the areas we identify could erupt enough ash or generate large enough tremors to disrupt networks that are central to global supply chains and financial systems," said Dr Lara Mani from CSER, lead author of the latest report.