• Question: Isn't studying volcanoes geographical? I love volcanoes do you still get excited when you are looking at a new volcano? Do you ever get scared when you climb or investigate volcanoes?

    Asked by smileybugs to David on 16 Mar 2011 in Categories: .
    • Photo: David Pyle

      David Pyle answered on 16 Mar 2011:


      Volcanoes and volcanism are studied both in university earth science (geology) and geography departments. My work involves making measurements (of rock and mineral compositions, for example), which need science labs; and some of my is quite mathematical (using statistics, for example) – so this is why I am in a science department.

      Volcanoes are exciting – and there’s certainly a thrill when you climb to the top, or see something new for the first time. But you have to be careful not to get carried away by the adrenaline rush! I have certainly been nervous a couple of times, both working on a new volcano where we may not know quite what is happening at the top; and also trying to find a safe way up a volcano where there may not be a trail..

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