A team of geologists is hard at work atop a sleeping volcano. They take samples of ash and gases, hoping to find information about when the volcano may awaken. Geologists are scientists that study rocks. These scientists secure instruments onto this molten mountain to measure small earthquakes and other activity. The information they receive from inside and outside of the volcano can be used to track eruptions.
Half of the team hopes to determine what is occurring inside the volcano. Increased temperatures, excessive gases, and swelling of certain areas are all warning signs that volcanic activity may follow. Domes on the surface of the volcano sometimes crack and reveal red-molten lava inside, just below the surface. They indicate that the volcano may soon erupt.
The other half of the group works at the base of the volcano. They study the outside of the volcano and also analyze the area surrounding it. They use survey equipment to measure ground tilting, a possible sign of future volcanic eruption. The land around the volcano resembles the landscape of the moon. Craters, large rocks, and a lack of vegetation tell of previous eruptions.
These geologists know that working near a volcano can be very dangerous. However, any information they can gather in order to predict a mighty explosion is extremely valuable. Monitoring volcanic activity is an important geological job. It can help give the people who live around the volcano time to evacuate, if an eruption is imminent.