Vulcānus is a Latin word that refers to Vulcan, the god of fire according to Roman mythology. From this term, etymologically, comes the word volcanology, which allows us to refer to the discipline dedicated to the study of volcanism.
Volcanism is called, however, the set of phenomena that are associated with the activity of volcanoes. A volcano, on the other hand, is an opening in a mountain or in the ground through which flames, smoke and magma are expelled. Volcanology is part of geology. In addition to investigating volcanoes, fumaroles and geysers, he is dedicated to investigating eruptions and substances that are released from the interior of the planet.
The specialist in volcanology is called a volcanologist. He is a geologist specializing in this area who, as part of his job, often visits volcanoes and collects lava, rock and ash samples for analysis. The origins of volcanology are remote and linked to superstition. Over time, the first really scientific knowledge about its object of study began to be produced, which sought to approach previous beliefs. In a third stage, starting in the 18th century, volcanology turned completely to scientific knowledge. Ultimately, volcanology aims to understand how volcanoes came to be and how they work. Thanks to their contributions, the risk for people living around these natural structures can be estimated. One of the great goals of volcanology is to predict eruptions. Although today it is not possible to anticipate them, the monitoring done by volcanologists is useful to measure volcanic activity.
