soundoff (91 Responses)

1. Al M
   

   Another natural disaster avoided as no casualties were reported. Hallelujah!

   August 29, 2010 at 11:07 am | Report abuse |
2. Russ
   

   There have always been volcanoes, earth quakes, tsunamis, floods, famine, disease. Many have been much worse than those today. The black death wiped out half the population of Europe, Krakatoa disappeared from the map in the 1800's , the potato famine killed 1.5 million Irish. Man himself killed over 40 million during WWII. These are peaceful times in comparison. The sun has a few more billion years of life. Earth will be here until then, but long dead and devoid of life. Life will survive on earth millions of years into the future. However, because of man's overpopulation of the planet, consumption of natural resources, and globalization of finances, commerce, and data, we are probably doomed as civilized people withing 200 years. For example. If the financial system had collapsed in 2008, it would have started a cascading effect that would not have been able to have been stopped. With no financial system, there would be no modern life. Everything, and I mean everything, is bought and sold. Without the ability to trade anything, electricity would eventually stop, and along with that the computer systems that everyone depends on. We would be back to living as tribes and scavenging for food. Billions of people would die. It is inevitable as we become more dependent on computers and electricity. They have made modern life possible, but at the same time, more vulnerable to disaster.

   August 29, 2010 at 11:42 am | Report abuse |
3. deb
   

   yes disasters occur when the earth has changes and time goes on causng even more changes. However nowhere in the Bible does it say that the predictions of end times are going to be supernatural. Its prophesies are of disasters but it doesnt mean that they arent coming true just because they are explainable. Yes the earth is changing and yes we are causing many of the problems. But no matter how you look at it prophesies are being fulfilled. As for the mockers and those who laugh-its ok. Laugh and mock away. Because you can laugh until you see )Christ descend from the sky...thats where all the laughter will stop. Some people will welcome him and some will become terrified and very much wish they had not mocked. Nevertheless the prophesies will have warned them and they who laugh are laughing to hide their fear of thinking maybe its true. I for one will be ecstatic and welcoming because no matter how the prophesies come true and even though its all scientific...God is telling us his warnings...why?....because He loves us all sooo much and doesnt want to LOSE ANY of us! Please listen to Him.

   August 29, 2010 at 11:50 am | Report abuse |
4. kutlass
   

   Wzrd1, I suggest you read scholarly papers from W. Steven Holbrook and Dr. James Hansen as I work with them and for them in order for you to completely know what is going on. I have a degree from Boston University in astronomy and geology.

   August 29, 2010 at 11:51 am | Report abuse |
5. PARROT
   

   BUSH DROPPED BILLIONS OF TONS OF BOMBS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND ASIA...HE DESTROYED SOMETHING IN OUR DELICATE, FRAGILE AND SMALL PLANET...WE ARE ALL DOMED!!

   August 29, 2010 at 12:02 pm | Report abuse |
6. Monika
   

   I don't know much, but I think these erupting volcanoes are a way of regeneration for earth. I mean we as human use earth's resources every day more so nature finds its way to put balance and order. The question is are we going to have nature on our side to clean up our messes all the time or will it finally say: " I have had it with this selfish and arrogant species"

   August 29, 2010 at 12:15 pm | Report abuse |
7. Mr coffee
   

   After all these years. Mt Cinnabun is once again erupting. One can only hope that near by Java can supply enough coffee to tame this delicious beast.

   August 29, 2010 at 12:18 pm | Report abuse |
8. fathul
   

   hey, do you know there is an american citizen missing in Indonesia??he was climbing a mountain called mount semeru
   here is the link,u can translate it by using ggletranslate

   http://surabaya.detik.com/read/2010/08/29/115745/1430386/475/pendaki-asal-amerika-dikabarkan-hilang-di-semeru

   August 29, 2010 at 12:21 pm | Report abuse |
9. Vespasian
   

   In geological time, 400 years is like yesterday. Some volcanoes have been dormant for tens of thousands of years.

   August 29, 2010 at 12:27 pm | Report abuse |
10. ed
    

    Mary Mitchell: Reem's comment although with a bunch of misspelled words could be understood. It is not the spelling that counts but his/her message. Do not be that mean I know you can spell.

    August 29, 2010 at 12:39 pm | Report abuse |
11. Anymouse
    

    I was present when Kilauea erupted, near by when Mount St. Helens blew, and had just left Stromboli before its first major eruption back in 1971. I have been through 5 Major Hurricanes, many tornadoes, one really bad flood, and several lesser ones, and a couple of catastrophic disaster area scale wild fires. This stuff happens. G-d has everything to do with it, or nothing, depending on your belief structure. I think Abraham survived the sinking of, and originated in Atlantis, but that is just my personal musing. Scientists, Meteorologists, and Geologists assure us that there are no more or less events (earthquakes, heat waves, floods, storms, eruptions) on the planet than usual, or historically in the past few decades. Just that the locations of events are shifting, to more densely populated areas. But only because its time for those areas to be affected, as part of a global pattern, in which these natural events occur. Natural for the planet, but disastrous, if not cataclysmic for living things. Personally, I'm willing to count, vehicular deaths, cigarettes, personal accidents, crime, hate, war and ethnic strife, take far more lives – historically. So IF the earths axis is indeed a pendulum, that is about to swing, so that the Sahara desert will once again be a lush river Valley, and Antarctica the steaming tropics it once was, I propose a plan for New Years Eve 1212. Lets all go tie ourselves to the Rock of Gibraltar, or some other monolith closest to us. I'm going with the scientists, in that it is a gradual process, and probably has already been happening – for some time now. I have a nice slice of Land in Antarctica for sale ... anyone? I hereby claim, for the United States of Me, whatever parts of Antarctica, have not been claimed – at this writing. There now its published, and the land belongs to me. Or at least reserves me the right – to claim the land in the future, for me and mine. 😀

    August 29, 2010 at 12:41 pm | Report abuse |
    • Ana
      

      Nice post; good adventures. However, the polar axis isn't due to shift for another ~10,000 yrs. Then Lyra in the contellation Vega will once again be our pole star. Good luck with swampland in Antarctica, though.

      August 29, 2010 at 1:17 pm | Report abuse |
12. wowlfer
    

    Classified as 'Inactive'. Just goes to show you how much the USGS knows! They continually understate dangers in high risk areas to protect property values instead of lives, and continue to overstate dangers in low risk areas jeopardizing peoples well being and livelihoods. They just grasp at straws nothing more!

    August 29, 2010 at 12:41 pm | Report abuse |
    • mtdHouston
      

      If it is inactive and later becomes active, I am going to guess the USGS will reclassify it. If not, you should call them up and correct them; they might offer you a job. Another million years of empirical observation should improve the accuracy of USGS projections.

      August 30, 2010 at 2:52 am | Report abuse |
13. G1-9
    

    Somebody has to be the bear of bad news Wikisky corrindnates 13 47 55 8 29 47 zoom in, hit infared, that blacked out square with those planets in it ,Houston we have a problem !!

    August 29, 2010 at 1:11 pm | Report abuse |
14. Drea
    

    We are only human! we don't have the powers to predict whats coming we can only just say science. If ppl out there think they know everything and history repeats its self. They have another wake up call coming to them!!!! were not God were not super human and we can't save the world. We live, breath, and love and do what we can to survive. End of story turn the page....

    August 29, 2010 at 1:49 pm | Report abuse |
15. Analoger
    

    Ok, not that I am an expert in plate tectonics but as far as I am concerned everyone above has missed the point completely with complicated answers to serious questions about our planet. What about density differential of the plates. We all know from school that oil is lighter than water could it not be possible that the oil within the plates helps to elevate the land above the water and if so, by removal of the crude oil within the plates causes them to be more dense therfore applying more pressure on the mantle. Viola more volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Me think more troubles ahead and we can thank our politicians for some of our problems. Also for the people who discount God as the divine creator, I ask you to please reconsider and have a look at what the Bible has to say!!!

    August 29, 2010 at 2:03 pm | Report abuse |
    • mtdHouston
      

      generally those troubles end when you die, so keep "me thinking" until you die. If you do not die, then you will see more troubles.

      Reconsider what? that volcanoes go off because the bible says Abraham's GOD pushed its eruption button. Could SATAN be behind these eruptions to test man's faith in GOD, something like that happened to JESUS 40 days in the desert? But GOD did mess with JOB for that purpose. It is a tossup as to who's religion and related agents are behind this. Pat Roberson says Haiti got the earthquakes from a 200 year contract gone bad. OK reconsidered.

      August 30, 2010 at 3:07 am | Report abuse |