by Chris Clark
NUCLEAR tests in North Korea could cause the eruption of a massive volcano that could wipe out populations across Asia and Europe, a Brisbane geology expert has warned.
Lloyd Hamilton, a retired associate professor of geology, has written to Foregin Minister Julie Bishop warning her of a super eruption at Paektu Mountain “that would drastically affect the whole world climate”.
The volcano lies active in northern North Korea, on the Chinese border. And it is due to explode, after last erupting in 1903.
“Professor Hiromitsu Taniguchi from Tohoku University claims that there is a 99 per cent chance of the Mount Paektu volcano in North Korea erupting some time in the next 15 years,” Mr Hamilton wrote in an email to Ms Bishop on Friday.
“It erupted in 946 A.D killing 71,000 to 92,000 people in North Korea, China, Russia and Japan.”
Today there are 1.6 million people living within 100km of Paektu Mountain, Mr Hamilton said.
The volcano had several minor eruptions in the lead up to 1903.
In 2010 there were more than 58 tremors in the mountain.
Currently the 2744-metre-high volcano is warming up and rising, Mr Hamilton warned.
It has a 20km wide mass of molten magma under it.
“I expect Australia would be happy to agree not to aggressively trigger an eruption of Mount Paektu if North Korea agreed to stop threatening us with its nuclear bombs, and totally removed the threat,” Mr Hamilton’s email continues.
“The big problem is determining the size of the eruption. We obviously do not want a super-eruption — that would drastically affect the whole world climate. (A small eruption now, however, could save North Korea from a much bigger eruption later on).
“We have to also take China, Japan, Russia and South Korea into account. Wind blowing into China at the time of an eruption would be devastating for China.
“As Paektu is on the border, we also need to be assured no landslides will be in that direction as the volcano has a 5km wide lake at its summit.”
Mr Hamilton said the recent brief volcanic activity alarmed the North Korean authorities and forced them to set aside their policy of isolation and secrecy.
In 2005 they contacted China and top scientists in Western countries for technical assistance to study the volcano, he said.
“Once they become aware that we could trigger Paektu volcano and its ‘Heavenly Lake’ they should be alarmed — Wake up Kim Jong-Un!” he wrote.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/north-korea-nuclear-tests-could-cause-eruption-of-volcano-at-paektu-mountain-geologist-warns/news-story/041761a89ab5452be816048b800162cf
