VOA新闻杂志2022--阻止火山并不容易

Stopping a Volcano Is Not Easy

Mauna Loa, the world's largest active volcano, is erupting again. Melted rock, called lava¹, from the volcano in the U.S. state of Hawaii is slowly moving toward roads and homes.

People are asking if anything can be done to stop or change the direction of the lava's flow. The volcano on Hilo, the biggest of the Hawaiian Islands, produces large amounts of lava when it erupts.

Over the years, people have tried to slow the flow of lava from Hawaii's volcanoes using prayer, walls — even bombs.

"Some people say ‘Build a wall' or ‘Board up' and other people say, ‘No don't!'" said Scott Rowland. He is a geologist² at the University of Hawaii.

People have rarely had success stopping lava. Even with technological³ progress, stopping lava is difficult and dependent on the speed of the flow and the land. But many in Hawaii question whether anyone should test nature.

Attempts to divert lava have a long history in Hawaii.

In 1881, the governor of Hawaii Island called for a day of prayer to stop lava from Mauna Loa as it headed for the town of Hilo. But the lava kept coming.

The U.S. Geological Survey tells the story that Princess Regent Lili'uokalani and her department leaders went to Hilo and considered ways to save the town. They developed plans to build barriers to divert the flow and placed dynamite⁴ to drain the lava supply. They asked Pele, the Hawaiian god of lava and fire, to stop the flow. The flow stopped before the barriers were built.

More than 50 years later, Thomas A. Jaggar, the founder⁵ of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory⁶, asked the U.S. Army to send airplanes to bomb a Mauna Loa vent⁷ to disrupt the lava. A volcanic⁸ vent is a place on the Earth's surface where lava or gas can escape.

The army dropped 20 bombs weighing 272 kilograms, the National Park Service documented at the time.

Jaggar said the bombing helped to stop the flow. But geologists⁹ today are doubtful. The lava flow did not end with the bombing. Instead, the flows slowed over the next few days and did not change paths.

Rowland said officials could build a large wall of broken rock to protect the highway on Hawaii Island. If the land is flat, then lava would build up behind the wall. But the lava may flow over it. That happened when something similar was attempted in Kapoho town in 1960.

Quickly moving lava flows, like those from Kilauea in 2018, would be more difficult to stop, Rowland said.

"It would have been really hard to build the walls fast enough for them," he said.

He said he believes most people in Hawaii would not want to build a wall to protect the highway because it would "mess with Pele."

Talmadge Magno is Hawaii County's director of civil defense¹⁰. He said Wednesday the county has no current plans to try to divert the flow.

Hawaii Governor David Ige was also governor during the 2018 Kilauea eruption¹¹. He told reporters his experience showed him it is not possible to overcome nature and Pele.

Kealoha Pisciotta is a Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner¹². She said thinking you should physically¹³ divert lava is a Western idea grounded in the thought that humans have to control everything.

She said people need to change to the lava, not the other way around.

"We are not separate from nature," she said. "We are a part of nature."

Words in This Story

erupt — n. to explode suddenly

geologist — n. a scientist who studies the Earth

divert — v. to change the direction of something in motion

dynamite — n. a powerful explosive

highway — n. a main road that connects cities and towns

1 lava   

n.熔岩，火山岩

参考例句：

• The lava flowed down the sides of the volcano.熔岩沿火山坡面涌流而下。
• His anger spilled out like lava.他的愤怒像火山爆发似的迸发出来。

2 geologist   

n.地质学家

参考例句：

• The geologist found many uncovered fossils in the valley.在那山谷里，地质学家发现了许多裸露的化石。
• He was a geologist,rated by his cronies as the best in the business.他是一位地质学家，被他的老朋友们看做是这门行当中最好的一位。

3 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

4 dynamite   

n./vt.(用)炸药(爆破)

参考例句：

• The workmen detonated the dynamite.工人们把炸药引爆了。
• The philosopher was still political dynamite.那位哲学家仍旧是政治上的爆炸性人物。

5 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

6 observatory   

n.天文台，气象台，瞭望台，观测台

参考例句：

• Guy's house was close to the observatory.盖伊的房子离天文台很近。
• Officials from Greenwich Observatory have the clock checked twice a day.格林威治天文台的职员们每天对大钟检查两次。

7 vent   

n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄

参考例句：

• He gave vent to his anger by swearing loudly.他高声咒骂以发泄他的愤怒。
• When the vent became plugged,the engine would stop.当通风口被堵塞时，发动机就会停转。

8 volcanic   

adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的

参考例句：

• There have been several volcanic eruptions this year.今年火山爆发了好几次。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

9 geologists   

地质学家，地质学者( geologist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Geologists uncovered the hidden riches. 地质学家发现了地下的宝藏。
• Geologists study the structure of the rocks. 地质学家研究岩石结构。

10 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

11 eruption   

n.火山爆发；（战争等）爆发；（疾病等）发作

参考例句：

• The temple was destroyed in the violent eruption of 1470 BC.庙宇在公元前1470年猛烈的火山爆发中摧毁了。
• The eruption of a volcano is spontaneous.火山的爆发是自发的。

12 practitioner   

n.实践者，从事者；(医生或律师等)开业者

参考例句：

• He is an unqualified practitioner of law.他是个无资格的律师。
• She was a medical practitioner before she entered politics.从政前她是个开业医生。

13 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。