Scientists use Top Trumps to unleash the power of volcanoes on the public

Some of the planet’s most destructive natural phenomena will be appearing in living rooms across the country this Christmas as the Earth’s volcanoes are given the Top Trumps treatment.

Fans of the iconic series will be able to pit the destructive forces of Krakatoa, Cotopaxi and Vesuvius against the unpredictability of Yellowstone, Etna and Eyjafjallajökull thanks to a special limited edition of the game.

There are more than 1,500 volcanoes across the globe, with around 50 erupting at any one time, and the Top Trumps game includes historical sites where thousands have lost their lives, as well as more recent outbursts which have caused chaos for millions.

Developed by volcanologists at the University of East Anglia, Plymouth University and Oxford University – working together on the STREVA (Strengthening Resilience in Volcanic Areas) Project – the 30 featured volcanoes are ranked in six categories: explosivity, deadliness, devastation potential, height, unpredictability and wow factor.

Iain Stewart MBE, Professor of Geoscience Communication at Plymouth University, co-hosted the BBC show Volcano Live in 2012. He said: “The volcanic world is constantly evolving, and its unpredictability is potentially its most dangerous element. I’m excited that we’ve found this new educational vehicle, so can communicate the potential hazards to a wider audience so the global community is both engaged and prepared. Volcanoes are amazing though – I think in the end my favourite category we came up with is Wow! Factor.”

The STREVA partners said they hoped the game would encourage people to learn about the devastating trail of destruction created by past eruptions, and the potential havoc that might be caused by future ones, but also to understand the sense of wonder felt by scientists witnessing these eruptions.

Dr Paul Cole, Lecturer in Geohazards at Plymouth University, and former Director of the Montserrat Volcano Observatory, said: “Volcanoes are both fascinating and destructive, and have a large impact on people who live around them. The STREVA Project is exploring better ways to forecast volcanic eruptions and identify and reduce the vulnerability of those risks. We wanted to use the game to highlight how much we know about volcanoes, and through Top Trumps, we are highlighting those serious and important messages in a fun and informative way.”

Dr Jenni Barclay, from the University of East Anglia and Leader of the STREVA Project, added: “As Top Trumps fans we couldn’t believe there wasn’t one for volcanoes, and we are delighted that Top Trumps were willing to work with us to put that right. It’s been tremendous and volcanologists from around the world have contributed superb images while we’ve used some of the scientific data and our own knowledge to create the categories, which we hope everyone will enjoy while learning.”

Professor David Pyle, volcanologist at Oxford University, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for us to have fun, share some of our own experiences on and with volcanoes, and at the same time create something that might have educational or wider benefits well beyond the boundaries of the STREVA project.”

The special edition of Volcanoes Top Trumps has been released for sale before Christmas, produced by Winning Moves, and is available to order through http://volcanoestoptrumps.org. All profits from the sales of the cards will go to help people affected by volcanic activity, and to enable scientists to learn more about volcanoes.