EcoLur
Armenia has around 550 volcanoes and it’s not excluded that they may become active, as Khachatur Meliksetyan, Head of Volcanology Department of Institute of Geological Sciences of NAS RA, made a statement at the press conference held at “EcoLur” Press Club on 26 September. Sergey Karapetyan, Chief Researcher at Volcanology Department of Institute of Geological Sciences of NAS RA, pointed out the most active volcanic regions: Syunik, Vayots Dzor and Gegharkounik Regions. Aragatsotn Region has150 volcanoes and volcanic groups.
‘The assessment of volcanic risks were carried out for the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant and it turned out that the volcano of Aragats Mount poses threat for the ANPP, which is located rather close to the ANPP, in Ararat,’ Sergey Karapetyan noted.
"Volcanic activity may have huge impact both on the climate and the environment. Volcanic activity causes rapid decrease in temperature, for example, in 18th century Laki volcano erupted in Iceland, and during the following several years the sun looked as blank as a clouded moon in Europe, which led to a famine in Europe, that killed thousands of people. Around 74,000 years ago Toba supereruption occurred, which caused a global volcanic winter, where the eruption of Aragats tuff can be considered around 640-650 thousand years ago. This eruption was a catastrophic eruption for our region and climate changes occurred at that time. If to speak about environmental problems, huge amount of gases are emitted into the atmosphere because of the eruptions, which pollute the atmosphere,” Khachatur Meliksetyan noted.
He added that the active volcanoes in neighboring countries may also pose threat, as we are located in the same region.
September 28, 2013 at 16:26