Here's why BOMBING a volcano to stop lava flow doesn't work
Digital Reporter
Thursday, August 23, 2018, 11:38 AM - Floods. Wildfires. Hurricanes. These are devastating forces of nature and when they strike, it's normal to feel helpless.
The best thing to do in an active weather situation is stay informed about watches and warnings and obey safety and evacuation orders.
There isn't much that can be done to stop a raging storm, but that hasn't stopped some from trying.
Here are five weird ways people have tried to combat extreme weather.
5. FLORIDA MAN'S JOKE ABOUT SHOOTING BULLETS AT HURRICANE GETS TAKEN SERIOUSLY
In September 2017, 22-year-old Ryon Edwards of Daytona Beach, Florida created an open Facebook invitation calling on people to shoot at Hurricane Irma in an attempt to make it go away.
More than 50,000 people signed up to participate. In an interview with the Associated Press, Edwards said it "seems the joke may have gone over many people's heads. I've got people in my inbox mad as hell because they think this is actually happening. I don't know whether to laugh or sigh."
The Facebook group went so viral officials issued a warning against the idea, just in case people didn't get the joke.
4. MAN TRIES TO ALLEVIATE FLOOD WITH A BUCKET
In June 2017, a young man in Florida tried to save his street from flooding by draining the road, one bucket at a time.
Video of his efforts went viral on Facebook, racking up more than 2 million views.
He eventually gave up and went home -- but we'll always have this video.
3. U.S. ARMY TRIED TO USE BOMBS HAWAIIAN VOLCANO TO STOP LAVA FLOW
In 1935, Hawaii's Mauna Loa volcano erupted, sending a river of lava toward a nearby community.
The river was advancing about 1.5 km per day and was expected to reach Hilo, a city with 15,000 residents, in less than three weeks' time.
Volcanologist Thomas Jagger, founder of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, proposed bombing the walls of the volcano that contained lava channels. It was theorized this would create new openings in the channels, which may make it possible to direct the lava away from Hilo.
On December 27, the U.S Army dropped twenty 600-pound bombs on the volcano. Five landed on their intended target.
Aerial view of bombs detonating on Mauna Loa | Dec. 27, 1935. Source: USGS | ARMY AIR CORPS
The other 15 landed hundreds of feet away, and one failed to explode.
Apart from missing the target almost completely, it was later noted the bombs would have been too weak to break through the walls of solidified lava anyway.
The lava slowed down six days later, but researchers believe it was due to receding volcanic activity and not because of the bombs.
Researchers have tried to manipulate volcanoes with the use of bombs a few times since, but the results have been dubious.
2. COOLING THE SEAS TO STOP HURRICANES
The Salter Sink is a 2009 invention by Stephen Salter, emeritus professor of engineering design at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.
It's comprised of a wave-powered pump that would push warm surface water down to cooler depths.
Hurricanes typically form when ocean temperatures reach 26.5 degrees Celsius. If a Salter device could keep ocean temperatures lower that could, in theory, reduce storm intensity.
Salter theorizes that hundreds of thousands of the devices in hurricane-prone areas could measurably reduce storm strength.
1. GET RID OF THAT SMOKE!
Wildfires are currently burning in B.C, creating a thick layer of smoke that's created some of the worst air quality on the planet.
The smoke is creating all kinds of health problems for residents and wildlife, ad some people have had enough.
A Facebook event called "Blow Spokane's Smoke Away" has popped up. So far, more than 1,000 people have indicated they plan to participate.
Residents are being asked to place at least five box fans on their roofs, turned up to the highest setting, and pointed toward "northeastern Canada" Friday at noon.
"There are roughly 550,000 residents of the Spokane, Washington metropolitan area ...To get rid of this smoke, we have to work together as a community," reads the Facebook description.
"After much deliberation and mathematical calculation, we have figured that it is absolutely possible for us to blow this smoke away with high powered fans. This Friday, every resident must place at least 5 box fans on their roof. Turn your fans on to the highest setting, and aim them toward northeastern Canada."
Organizer Caleb Moon told Global News he's serious about the idea, but the Facebook page's description has since been updated to read "STRONG SATIRE AHEAD."
If fans aren't your thing, you may want to consider throwing rocks at the smoke to make it go away.
"The smoke is preventing us all from going outdoors and going to work, and doing pretty much everything," reads the (satirical) Facebook description.
"I strongly believe with enough rocks, we can make the smoke leave. So throw your rocks! (Preferably towards Canada)."
