SENSE

For hundreds of years, all kinds of people have noticed important things about volcanoes and volcanic eruptions which help to make sense of things that happen around them.

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Our exhibit will feature a series of "sensing" activities that allow visitors to explore different aspects of volcanic eruptions.

You might be surprised by how much we can learn about volcanoes just using sight, sound, touch and even smell!

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The human brain is an amazing data processor, one that we often take for granted - especially when it comes to making "scientific observations"... 

 Many people underestimate the power of being a skilled observer, over-reliance on sophisticated instruments can lead to misinterpretation of data or to unrealistic results being accepted as fact.

Frank Perret was a volcanologist who worked in the Caribbean in the early 1900s, he devised a listening device that looked a lot like a trumpet to amplify the tiny vibrations of the ground caused by the movement of magma allowing him to "listen" to volcanoes in Montserrat and Martinique. 

In the 1930's Frank Perret was asked to determine whether intense earthquakes on Montserrat were a signal of an imminent eruption. Perret noticed alarming temperature readings from one of his thermometers, this could've been a sign of magma moving closer to the surface - cause for concern! 

However, Perret also noticed his thermometers were becoming discoloured. He determined that the gasses being emitted from the ground around the volcano were damaging the instrument. Perret made sure to take additional readings with a new thermometer, and to his relief, the readings were much lower. When he combined this new reading with his other observations at the volcano, Perret was able to reassure the governor. 

Thermometers placed in the ground on Montserrat soon became damaged by the gasses they were exposed to. This led to suspiciously high temperatures being recorded and they had to be replaced. 

Perret's story shows the value of making careful observations, he used all his senses (and the senses of those around him) to identify patterns that helped him help the communities he served. 

To this day, eyewitness accounts of historical eruptions - whether gathered by scientists in the aftermath, recorded in newspaper articles or passed down generation to generation as oral histories - provide crucial insights into volcanic processes and hazards experienced by surrounding communities. It is important to acknowledge and challenge our own (and institutional) biases when it comes to who counts as a trustworthy observer.

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As you explore SENSING VOLCANOES, you will experience some of the sounds, smells, & sensations that act as signals of volcanic & magmatic processes.

Things that were SENSED by people like you for centuries formed the basis of the instruments used to DETECT signals in the past & present that help us prepare for eruptions.