This week’s programme comes from the world’s largest earth sciences conference, the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco.

Roland Pease talks with Diana Roman of the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington DC about the tragic White Island volcanic eruption in which at least eight tourists died.

Aurora Elmore of National Geographic and Arbindra Khadka of Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu Nepal discuss the state of Himalayan glaciers and climate change.

Robert Hazen of the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington DC tells Roland about the research area called geobiochemistry and Hilairy Hartnett of Arizona State University explains why it may not be easy to find life on extra solar planets.

(Image: Smoke from the volcanic eruption of Whakaari, also known as White Island. Credit: Reuters)

Presenter: Roland Pease