Volcano of the Week #2- Olympus Mons

Olympus Mons is located on Mars and is the largest volcano (and mountain) in the solar system. It is in the Tharis region, one of Mars' two main volcanic areas, the other being Elysium. At 27km, the height of this shield volcano is astounding, Everest is 8.848km. However it is the width (550km) that is truly mind blowing, to put this into context it is the size of Arizona or if you were standing on Mars you wouldn't be able to see the summit of Olympus Mons (and not just because you'd probably be dead). The caldera (central volcanic crater) is a humongous 66 by 83km and 3km deep.




Mars unlike Earth is lacking in plate tectonics which is why it is believed that Olympus Mons has grown to such a large size. With each subsequent volcanic eruption more lava is added to this fixed hotspot. It is relatively difficult to measure the volcanism of Olympus Mons due to its extraterrestrial nature. However lava flows have been seen as recently as 2004 and due its relatively young age, it is expected that there will be more volcanic activity.

This website offers more information on Olympus Mons and has some excellent pictures.

OlympusMons.com - Your Guide to Olympus Mons - the largest volcano in our solar system.

Thanks to Vanna 'volcanoes in space' Barber for a heads up on this volcano and a happy summer solstice.

Tintin and Volcanoes

Tintin has always been a massive influence in my life (for example my best friends are a small white dog, a violent drunken sailor and an eccentric professor) and I have recently realised that this spreads to my love of volcanoes. Flight 714, the penultimate tintin book involves not only volcanoes but also aliens. I know; volcanoes, tintin and aliens is an absolute winning combination. It's probably one of the strangest adventures but I still love it.




As well the excellent Tintin series Herge also wrote the adventures of Jo, Zette and Jocko. Which I suppose is a bit like a dumbed down version of Tintin. My older brother had all the Tintin books so Jo, Zette and Jocko were my thing. The second half of The Secret Ray (eruption of karamako) was all about a volcanic eruption and some cannibals so pretty great really (also Jocko is a pet monkey)

Volcano of the Week #1- Kolumbo

Kolumbo is located on the island of Santorini (or Thera) in Greece, the volcano has erupted many times forming a ring of smaller islands around the volcano. However the most famous eruption is the Minoan eruption with a VEI of 6/7; this means volcanic explosivity index which is a scale that goes up to 8 (for all you non volcano experts) which occurred around 1650 BCE.

There is much speculation surrounding just how great the effects of this eruption were and theories state that it may have wiped out the Minoan civilisation or buried Atlantis. The Minoan settlement at Akrotiri was buried by the eruption and the site is currently being evacuated. Other Minoan settlements on Crete may have been wiped out by devastation to plant life or a tidal wave caused by the eruption. There are similarities between Plato's description of Atlantis and the Santorini islands especially with regards to the quarries and layout. Although it is probably the case that the sinking of this legendary island by a massive Plinian eruption is just a romantic ideal. This iconic eruption may have also allowed the Exodus from Egypt.

semiconductor

Shit, looks like there are more volcano artists out there. and they're better, more in-depth and more serious...

Semiconductor’s explosive Galapagos volcano residency | Arts Council

Postcards

lots of lovely volcanic entries today





Pictures of Vesuvius from the 1944 eruption (first pic) other two from the 1930s. Vesuvius was pretty much constantly active from 1660 to 1944
From the well known postcard collector Michael D. Stamp

Volcano jokes

Why have volcanoes changed the nature of the internet?

Because there was an e-ruption

Why aren't there any births in Iceland?

Because it's full of geysers

Who's a volcano's favourite entertainer?

Dame Etna Everidge

What's a volcanoes' favourite food?

Molten Mowbray Pork Pies

by Hadrian 'Dame Etna Everidge' Ward

Amazing Volcano Birthday Cake

made by Emma 'Cake-atoa' Richards and Theo "Vesuvius" Vidgen
think the jelly baby massacre makes this cake truly great