Apache Junction man's volcano expertise called into question

[The Straight Story]

Apache Junction man's volcano expertise called into question


When a cloud of volcanic ash from Iceland shut down air travel in Europe in April, news media scrambled for volcano experts.

Soon, both the Wall Street Journal and CNN were quoting and chatting with a man who gave the location of his research facility as Apache Junction.

Robert "R.B." Trombley directs the International Volcano Research Centre, where he is also listed as lead volcanologist on the center's website. It bills itself as an organization that conducts volcanic analysis, eruption forecasting and public education.

On April 16, Trombley was quoted in the Wall Street Journal on the potential for acid rain. If a volcano's ash has a high concentration of sulfur, it can mix with water vapor to form sulfuric acid. "It's hard to say whether that's a problem right now," Trombley said.

Three days later, Trombley appeared on CNN's "American Morning," discussing the volcano's effect on the airline industry as test flights were launched into the ash cloud.

...


The International Volcano Research Centre is located in Trombley's home, a pink trailer in Apache Junction.

It's the place where Trombley says he monitors online data from more than 500 volcanoes each day and then assesses their likelihood of eruption through a software program he says he designed.

...

Trombley's website, www.intlvrc.org, contains a list of current eruptions; a description of fee-based services and products, such as community presentations and CD-ROMs of past volcano expeditions; and links to the reports and papers by Trombley and his staff.
...

He appeared surprised that the University of Dallas had been listed and then said he graduated from Dallas State, adding that he wasn't sure "if it's even open now."


Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2010/06/05/20100605arizona-volcano-expert-questioned.html#ixzz0q0p4yxNS

His web site would be the only clue a reporter would have needed to his skills :)