Predicting the eruption of a volcano has always been difficult, not to mention essential! A group of geophysicists in the UK have used a radio controlled helicopter to help them locate volcanoes that are close to erupting, by modifying a large RC model to do the job.
Just before a volcano is ready to erupt, magma arrives in the heart of the volcano. This then has a habit of releasing CO2, or carbon dioxide, into the air. If you can spot changes in the CO2 levels above the volcano, you’re able to tell if it is about to erupt.
However, taking those measurements can be very difficult as CO2 levels are naturally very high in the atmosphere, so the added CO2 from the volcano is very subtle.
Previously volcanologists have had to use gas sensors, which they have to place inside the volcano, to test it. This is extremely dangerous, and six volcanologists died in 1993 when a volcano in Columbia erupted.
The solution to this lies in the form of a radio controlled helicopter that can safely enter the volcano and take the measurements, without risk to human life. Geophysicist Andrew McGonigle from the University of Sheffield is reportedly developing an RC helicopter type vehicle to take the required measurements.
He has already proven that the concept of using an RC helicopter to take measurements within a volcano works when he conducted an experiment in a volcano in Italy. As a result of his experiments he has won a cash award from Rolex, giving him $100,000 to further develop his radio controlled helicopter.
The helicopter that he has developed is able to fly 400 metres from the radio transmitter, which is enough to enter the volcano. Systems such as this have also been used in Antarctica to photograph areas that humans are unable to reach safely.