Konocti across the lake
Geology is a force of nature that most people fail to even think about, until the day it bursts free with terrifying force and destruction. One can never be entirely safe from everything, but when the dangers are there, it is important to be aware of what they are.
In Lake County, California, there is a lovely mountain rising up along the side of Clear Lake, which goes by the name Konocti. It's a pleasant and unassuming sight -- a shapely hill covered in chaparral and pines, adorned with vineyards and neighborhoods.
A glance through any of the local tourist brochures or real estate magazines will quickly tell you about the joys of vacationing or living beneath the shadow of this "extinct" volcano.
Just one small problem: that information is one hundred percent false.
Konocti is not extinct at all. It is currently dormant, but the US Geological Survey classifies it as "High To Very High Threat Potential" -- the highest risk classification in California.
Konocti first erupted about 300,000 years ago, and has been quiet for around 11,000 years. But it still has a sizable hot magma chamber lurking deep below it.
This is, of course, the reason for all the geothermal activity in the area, including The Geysers geothermal plant, which supplies much of the local area's electric needs.
Konocti is a silicic volcano, meaning the magma it produces has a high quantity of silica in it. This results in a far more explosive volcano -- think Mt St Helen's style (though smaller), rather than the peaceful lava flows of Hawaii.
In fact, Konocti has a highly explosive history. Many of the mountains between Konocti and Ukiah are the result of lava flows and ash piles from historic eruptions.
Unlike most volcanoes, which form along subduction zones as a result of the melting of the subducting tectonic plate, Konocti is fault-controlled. This means that as this stretch of land is pulled apart and thinned by tensional forces, the openings to the magma chamber are (at least to some extent) controlled by the motions of the faults.
The good news is this: volcanic eruptions always have forewarning in the form of earthquake swarms and magma motion beneath the ground. If Konocti decides to vent its fury once more within our lifetimes, there will almost certainly be time to evacuate.
But the countryside near the blast will take many years to recover, and the nearest towns may be completely destroyed.
Konocti is a beautiful vista, but perhaps it would be best to avoid the lure of purchasing real estate on its flanks.
Just in case.
In Lake County, California, there is a lovely mountain rising up along the side of Clear Lake, which goes by the name Konocti. It's a pleasant and unassuming sight -- a shapely hill covered in chaparral and pines, adorned with vineyards and neighborhoods.
A glance through any of the local tourist brochures or real estate magazines will quickly tell you about the joys of vacationing or living beneath the shadow of this "extinct" volcano.
Just one small problem: that information is one hundred percent false.
Konocti is not extinct at all. It is currently dormant, but the US Geological Survey classifies it as "High To Very High Threat Potential" -- the highest risk classification in California.
Konocti first erupted about 300,000 years ago, and has been quiet for around 11,000 years. But it still has a sizable hot magma chamber lurking deep below it.
This is, of course, the reason for all the geothermal activity in the area, including The Geysers geothermal plant, which supplies much of the local area's electric needs.
Konocti is a silicic volcano, meaning the magma it produces has a high quantity of silica in it. This results in a far more explosive volcano -- think Mt St Helen's style (though smaller), rather than the peaceful lava flows of Hawaii.
In fact, Konocti has a highly explosive history. Many of the mountains between Konocti and Ukiah are the result of lava flows and ash piles from historic eruptions.
Unlike most volcanoes, which form along subduction zones as a result of the melting of the subducting tectonic plate, Konocti is fault-controlled. This means that as this stretch of land is pulled apart and thinned by tensional forces, the openings to the magma chamber are (at least to some extent) controlled by the motions of the faults.
The good news is this: volcanic eruptions always have forewarning in the form of earthquake swarms and magma motion beneath the ground. If Konocti decides to vent its fury once more within our lifetimes, there will almost certainly be time to evacuate.
But the countryside near the blast will take many years to recover, and the nearest towns may be completely destroyed.
Konocti is a beautiful vista, but perhaps it would be best to avoid the lure of purchasing real estate on its flanks.
Just in case.