Mount Garibaldi, this volcano that threatens the region between Whistler and Vancouver
A study suggests Mount Garibaldi, a dormant volcano in southwestern British Columbia, poses the greatest volcanic threat to residents and infrastructure in Vancouver's Whistler area.
In their study, volcanologist Catherine Hickson and her colleague Conner Morison, of St. Andrews University in Edinburgh, want to remind British Columbians that they live in an area where volcanic activity exists .
It's not just floods, earthquakes, wildfires, says Catherine Hickson.
The study published in the journal Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences(in English) denotes that the physical characteristics of the volcanic belt, on which Mount Garibaldi sits, have changed, in part due to the rapid melting of the ice caps.
“Let's not forget that this is a potentially active volcano, so let's stay vigilant.
—Catherine Hickson, Volcanologist
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Indeed, the melting of the ice in the upper parts of the volcano associated with the use of Mount Garibaldi, in particular for the Winter Olympics in 2010, suggests the increase in landslides and lahars. , or mudslides of volcanic origin, according to Catherine Hickson.
However, the chances of Mount Garibaldi erupting are very low in my lifetime and probably in my lifetime. that of my children, assures the volcanologist.
In their study, Catherine Hickson and Conner Morison point the finger at Canada, because they believe that the country does not sufficiently monitor its volcanoes, including Mount Garibaldi.
An observation shared by Yannick Le Moigne, volcanologist at the Geological Survey of Canada. According to him, the difficulty of access, particularly to Mount Garibaldi, and the lack of funding justify the meagerness of the research.
Basically, the easiest volcano to access, c It's Mount Garibaldi, but it still requires helicopter support to get to some places, he comments.
The volcanologist, however, claims that in the last two years, the Geological Survey of Canada has received funding to study volcanoes, and in particular Mount Garibaldi, since it is one of the most dangerous in the country.
Volcanoes are classified into three categories: active, dormant or extinct.
- Active volcanoes have experienced recent eruptions and are likely to erupt again.
- Dormant volcanoes haven't erupted in a very long time, but may erupt in the future.
- Extinct volcanoes should no longer erupt in the future. x27; future.
Source : National Geographic
“The last eruption was approximately 10,000 years ago […] This is a still dormant, but potentially still active volcano. »
— Yannick Le Moigne, Volcanologist, Geological Survey of Canada
He adds that the Geological Survey of Canada has been developing an SAR interferometry system or InSAR technique for about a year.
This mapping technique makes it possible to monitor volcanoes remotely from space, particularly in British Columbia, including Mount Garibaldi.
Satellites pass over British Columbia at regular intervals and take images and physical data of the ground. By analyzing this data, we can see if the volcanoes or if the ground around the volcanoes moves, swells, deflates, details the volcanologist.
A satellite using the InSAR technique, under development at the Geological Survey of Canada.
Yannick Le Moigne goes on to explain that when magma rises to the surface, it makes its way through the earth's crust, which deforms the surface of the ground. These changes are thus visible from space thanks to this monitoring by InSAR, he explains.
In January 2023, scientists from the Center for Research on Natural Hazards from Simon Fraser University launched a questionnaire for the British Columbian public.
They wanted to know the knowledge gaps of residents regarding the risks associated with volcanoes.
The survey is accessible until March 31, 2023, but the volcanologist explains that more than 2,400 responses have been collected and there are rather encouraging responses, assures Yannick Le Moigne.< /p>
