Cody Crane gives a description of the expedition of a group of scientists who explored Mount Nyiragongo. Mount Nyiragongo is an extremely active and unstable volcano. Nyiragongo is a stratovolcano; A stratovolcano is a very dangerous and explosive, long-lived volcano. A unique property mentioned in the Nyiragongo Volcano article is its low silica content (Crane, 2011). Usually, stratovolcanoes have a higher silica content. Silica levels are a determining factor on the magnitude of the explosion. The higher the amount of silica, the more gas it will trap, making the eruption more violent. However, the more silica, the more viscous the lava. The Nyiragongo volcano has low viscosity lava; therefore, there is accelerated lava flow. Crane states that the speed of the lava flow is an inconvenience for the citizens of Goma because it reduces evacuation time (Crane, 2011). An important question might be why the decision to establish a community in such a dangerous place matters. . Aside from the political inconveniences faced by people in the region, the area surrounding the volcano is rich in minerals. The soil could be ideal for crops; nevertheless, citizens are faced with a situation of give and take. Crane points out that the toxic air from the volcano decreases the quality of air, water and food (Crane, 2011). Plus, you really never know when the next massive eruption might take place. Scientists can attempt to predict a possible period when the risk of explosion is high; however, at present it is impossible to predict the exact time and date of the next eruption (Crane, 2011). Scientists are working with all the tools at their disposal in order to acquire more information about ...... middle of paper ... one important factor is extremely fascinating. Being able to acquire samples from the volcano is very important. The samples will help researchers understand a little more about the components and behavior of Nyiragongo. Since we don't know when the next eruption will occur, collecting and analyzing information is truly essential. Even though the scientist was wearing a protective suit, being so close to lava is extremely dangerous. The fact that a scientist is risking his life to study and analyze the volcano is a great example of the complexity and importance of information. The article left me wondering when the next explosion will be and if there is any chance of survival if the volcano erupts at full capacity. The Mount St. Helens explosion was so huge that part of the volcano was blown away. I wonder if Nyiragongo will experience similar consequences.