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1 Department of Environmental Science, Institute of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
2 Department of Earth Science, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK
Scientific research can take unexpected, even counter-intuitive, directions because of technical innovation, the occasional brilliant idea that overturns conventional wisdom and new observations that provide previously unexpected insights into the way in which nature works. For these reasons no one is certain what the future holds in terms of breakthroughs. This chapter highlights some of the most recent developments in research on the physics of explosive volcanism. It pin-points cardinal areas of study poised for new research and anticipates major future developments. Advances in remote sensing and computational power are two examples of technical developments which are currently having dramatic impacts on understanding the physics of explosive volcanism. Such technical innovations, together with many good ideas and observations, are changing perceptions of the mechanisms of explosive volcanism.
With an increasingly populated and ecologically stressed world, the potential effects of explosive volcanism are being exacerbated. Several megacities, e.g. Tokyo, Naples and Mexico City, now exist close to active volcanoes, and in many parts of the world economic development and population expansion have combined such that the risk of major volcanic disasters increases year by year. Volcanic activity has both local and global environmental effects. For example, fallout of volcanic ash from eruption plumes can disrupt air, sea, road and rail traffic, inhibit electrical communications, cause respiratory problems for people and animals, pollute water, damage crops, cause failure of building roofs and generally bring havoc to local communities. On a larger scale, volcanic aerosols from some events, such as the 1991 Pinatubo
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This 250-word extract was created in the absence of an abstract.
