Abstract
Volcanic eruptions affect land and humans globally. When a volcano erupts, tons of volcanic ash materials are ejected to the atmosphere and deposited on land. The hazard posed by volcanic ash is not limited to the area in proximity to the volcano, but can also affect a vast area. Ashes ejected from volcano’s affect people’s daily life and disrupts agricultural activities and damages crops. However, the positive outcome of this natural event is that it secures fertile soil for the future. This paper examines volcanic ash (tephra) from a soil security view-point, mainly its capability. This paper reviews the positive aspects of volcanic ash, which has a high capability to supply nutrients to plant, and can also sequester a large amount of carbon out of the atmosphere. We report some studies around the world, which evaluated soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation since volcanic eruptions. The mechanisms of SOC protection in volcanic ash soil include organo-metallic complexes, chemical protection, and physical protection. Two case studies of volcanic ash from Mt. Talang and Sinabung in Sumatra, Indonesia showed the rapid accumulation of SOC through lichens and vascular plants. Volcanic ash plays an important role in the global carbon cycle and ensures soil security in volcanic regions of the world in terms of boosting its capability. However, there is also a human dimension, which does not go well with volcanic ash. Volcanic ash can severely destroy agricultural areas and farmers’ livelihoods. Connectivity and codification needs to ensure farming in the area to take into account of risk and build appropriate adaptation and resilient strategy.
Highlights
Volcanic activity has a significant impact on the world’s ecosystem
Soils derived from volcanic ash or tephra have the highest capacity to store carbon due to their poorly crystalline minerals that have large surface areas enabling complexation and physical protection
Mohr in 1938 [4] compared population densities of different districts near Mount Merapi, Central Java, Indonesia, and found higher population densities in areas with soils derived from volcanic ash
Summary
Volcanic activity has a significant impact on the world’s ecosystem. Its eruption is catastrophic, spewing lava and ashes, posing a serious risk to humans and their livelihoods. Soils derived from volcanic ash or tephra have the highest capacity to store carbon due to their poorly crystalline minerals that have large surface areas enabling complexation and physical protection. While SOC sequestration in volcanic ash soils (Andosols) have been widely discussed and reviewed, e.g., Reference [5], the carbon sequestration potential of tephra is less discussed This soil material is important in areas with volcanoes such as Indonesia, Philippines, Japan, New Zealand, Hawaii and Pacific Islands, the Caribbean islands, Iceland, and South America. Tephra rejuvenates soil and provides nutrients reserve, and has a large potential to sequester carbon over a relatively short period This capacity ensures the security of our soils in active volcanic regions of the world. It further discusses how a soil security framework may be applied in areas suffering from constant volcanic eruptions
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