Volcanologist (Vulkanoloog)

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A volcanologist is a scientist who specializes in volcanology, which has to do with earth sciences and volcanism. A volcanologist is therefore a specialist in the field of volcanism and volcanoes. The field of a volcanologist is called volcanology, which mainly consists of the study of magmatic rocks, namely intrusive rocks, and extrusive rocks. Intrusive rocks are the magmatic rock that forms under the earth's surface. Extrusive rocks are the magmatic rocks that form precisely on the earth's surface. Extrusive rocks are also called outflow rocks. Outflow rock consists of crystals or glass. Intrusive rocks are also called deep rock, which is created by the solidification of magma. As a volcanologist you are therefore specialized in volcanoes and magma and you investigate them in a scientific way. Studying possible volcanic eruptions and predicting volcanic eruptions is also part of the work of a volcanologist. The work of a volcanologist can be regarded as dangerous work, because you will also regularly investigate active volcanoes. The profession of volcanologist is a very specific profession that is not common in practice. This does not alter the fact that the work of a volcanologist can be regarded as important work. Obviously, a volcanologist is mainly active in areas where volcanoes occur. There are about fifteen hundred volcanoes on earth, of which about six hundred are active. More than sixty percent of all volcanoes are located at the bottom of an ocean. As a volcanologist, it can happen that you are also active on an ocean to carry out research. Inactive volcanoes are also considered dead volcanoes. Dead volcanoes are volcanoes that have not erupted for years and no longer show measurable activities.

A volcanologist is therefore a scientist, who mainly conducts scientific research on magmatic rocks. Magma is the liquid rock that is located below the earth's surface and has a temperature between 650 and 1200 degrees Celsius. When the magma moves above the earth's surface, it is no longer called a magma but lava. When the lava solidifies, one speaks of igneous rock again. Igneous rock can also consist of magma, but then the igneous rock has formed below the earth's surface and not above the earth's surface. When igneous rock is formed from magma (under the aardopper falcon) one also speaks of deep rock or magmatic rock. Igneous rock will in most cases consist of crystalline substances. The earth is for the most part made up of crystalline rocks. Crystalline means that a (solid) material is made up of crystals. Magmatic rocks are therefore igneous rocks, which can consist of various minerals. Magmatic rocks can form below or at the earth's surface.

PREDICTING VOLCANIC ERUPTION

Another important job of a volcanologist may be to predict a possible volcanic eruption, but this does not always have to be the case, as predicting a possible volcanic eruption or earthquake has more to do with seismology than with volcanology. The profession of volcanologist has everything to do with magma, lava, volcanoes and possible eruptions. A volcanologist will regularly visit active volcanoes for his research, which usually consist of a mountain. When the so-called volcano mountain emits material, one generally speaks of an eruption or eruption. A volcano will usually erupt when temperatures of about 1000 to 1300 degrees Celsius arise at great depths of about a hundred kilometers. Due to these temperatures at great depths, the molten rock (magma) will be pushed upwards and eventually end up in the magma chamber. When the magma chamber is full and the pressure is too great from the earth, an eruption or eruption can occur. In the event of an eruption, a volcano will emit gases and (liquid) rock.

No one can predict exactly how often a volcano erupts, but in general there are decades or thousands of years of intervals between volcanic eruptions. A volcano that has not been active for thousands of years is also called a dormant volcano. A dormant volcano does not mean that the volcano is no longer active, but it does mean that it has not shown any activities for a long time. When a volcano erupts and it concerns a large volcanic eruption, the eruption can have major consequences for the earth's climate, for example because the volcanic dust and ash from the volcano can end up in the stratosphere.

WORKING AS A VOLCANOLOGIST

Working as a volcanologist is obviously not entirely harmless, because the volcanologist for good research will mainly be located in active volcano area. Incidentally, there are also lava flows on earth that are not directly located at or next to a volcano. Lava flows can also be very dangerous, because the temperature of lava is high and the lava flow can have an unpredictable character. Lava and lava flows can move at a speed of up to 75 kilometers per hour. In addition to the temperature and unpredictable nature of lava, lava can also be dangerous due to the emission of gases such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrochloric acid (gases) and sulfur dioxide.

MAGMATIC ROCKS

Magmatic rocks are rocks that are formed when magma solidifies. The original magma is a liquid that contains all kinds of components, including silicon dioxide (SiO2), calcium oxide (CaO) and alumina (Al2O3). During solidification, silicon dioxide will first precipitate and form minerals such as quartz or feldspar. During the process, minerals such as olivine and pyrox are formed at high temperature, while the mineral amphibole is formed at a lower temperature. The magma may also contain calcium oxide, magnesium oxide (MgO) and iron oxide (Fe2O3), among other minerals that are more soluble in high-temperature or pressure magmas. Magmatic rocks are usually called diorite for their chemical composition, for example diorite. Magmatic rocks are therefore igneous rocks, which are formed by the igneousness of magma or lava. Under the earth's surface, intrusive rocks arise and extrusive rocks arise at the earth's surface.

What do volcanologists do?

Volcanologists obviously don't just have to deal with eruptions, because the eruption of a volcano is not common. Volcanologists are responsible for examining magmatic rocks forming below or on the earth's surface and other studies. Experiencing a live eruption is also valuable with regard to scientific research. An eruption is relatively rare. Predicting volcanic eruptions is also tricky. The profession of volcanologist can be regarded as a special profession.

WHAT DOES A VOLCANOLOGIST DO:

TRAINING TO BECOME A VOLCANOLOGIST

If you aspire to a career as a volcanologist, it is best to follow the university study earth sciences. The earth sciences study is a broad scientific study that will combine various subjects such as physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics and geography. During this study you will learn, for example, how earthquakes are caused and how exactly mountains originated. There is no other study for the profession of volcanologist. The university study earth sciences is generally the most focused study for people who want to work as a volcanologist. In addition, there are also plenty of external training institutes where you can follow a course. Accounting is also important as an entrepreneur.

COMPANIES WHERE A VOLCANOLOGIST CAN WORK

A volcanologist will in most cases work for a research institution or is a hobbyist. As described earlier, the profession of volcanologist is not very common in practice, because it concerns very specific activities. Most volcanologists will therefore work for a research institution. In addition, it is conceivable that a volcanologist is active as a guide. In that case, you usually have to deal with tourists, who are interested in the operation of volcanoes.

COMPETENCES VOLCANOLOGIST

As a volcanologist you are a scientific researcher and it is important that you know how to analyze the obtained information in a scientific way. Good communication skills are also important in most cases because you can also work together with other scientists. Consider, for example, working with an oceanographer, who specializes in investigating ocean currents. In addition, as a volcanologist it is important that you are not afraid because fieldwork will occur a lot. Being able to climb volcanoes should also not be a problem. Generally important words are passion, motivation, sense of responsibility, perseverance, independence and patience.

LABOUR MARKET PERSPECTIVE AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AS A VOLCANOLOGIST

The labour market perspective of a volcanologist is relatively insignificant. It is true that a volcanologist must be regarded as a scientist, which makes the labor market good. The career opportunities of a volcanologist should be seen in gaining a lot of experience and knowledge and possibly publishing this knowledge by obtaining a PhD.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT AND SALARY VOLCANOLOGIST

There are no real examples of the employment conditions because as a volcanologist you can work for various research institutions or other types of companies. What exactly a volcanologist will earn is also not easy to indicate. In addition, a volcanologist can also work as a hobby.

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