Transcript of VOLCANO HAZARDS

ASH FALL !
• Ash fall- from continued explosive jetting of fine volcanic particles into high ash clouds
generally does not cause any direct fatalities.
PYROCLASTIC FLOWS !
What’s in pyroclastic flows?
Pyroclastic flows contain a high-density mix of:
-hot lava block, rock fragments (e.g. pumice), ash. volcanic gas

LAHAR !
• Lahars are "mudflows", mixtures of volcanic ash, blocks and water, formed on volcanoes.
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Signs of an Impending Volcanic Eruption
1. Increase in the frequency of volcanic quakes with rumbling sounds; occurrence of volcanic
tremors;
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READY!
Appropriate measures/interventions before, during, and after volcanic eruption
VOLCANO HAZARDS
What to know... and What to do...
When Volcanic Eruptions Happen

Ballistic Projectiles !
Ballistic projectiles are rocks that an erupting volcano may hurl into the air. These blocks and
bombs travel like cannonballs and usually land within 2km of the vent (but can travel as far as
5km, or even further, if the eruption is very explosive.)
2. Increased steaming activity; change in color of steam emission from white to gray due to
entrained ash;
3. Crater glow due to presence of magma at or near the crater;
4. Ground swells (or inflation), ground tilt and ground fissuring due to magma intrusion;
5. Localized landslides, rockfalls and landslides from the summit area which not attributable to
heavy rains;
6. Noticeable increase in the extent of drying up of vegetation around the volcano’s upper slopes;
7. Increase in the temperature of hot springs, wells crater lake near the volcano;
8. Noticeable variation in the chemical content of springs, crater lakes within the vicinity of the
volcano;
9. Drying up of springs/wells around the volcano; and,
10. Development of new thermal areas and/or reactivation of old ones; appearance
LAVA FLOW !
•Lava flows are streams of molten rock that pour or ooze from an erupting vent. Lava is erupted
during either nonexplosive activity or explosive lava fountains. The speed at which lava moves
across the ground depends on several factors, including: (1)
type of lava erupted and its viscosity
;(2)
steepness of the ground over which it travels;
(3)
whether the lava flows as a broad sheet, through a confined channel, or down a lava tube
; and (4)
rate of lava production at the vent.
•It is a volatile substances released from a volcano or volcanically active area.
• Lahar is an Indonesian term that describes a hot or cold mixture of water and rock fragments
that flows down the slopes of a volcano and typically enters a river valley.
• Lahar can occur with or without volcanic eruption.
• Lahars and excess sediment cause serious economic and environmental damage to river valleys
and flood plains.
• An ash cloud is a large cloud of smoke and debris that forms over a volcano after it erupts.
• The damage from ash fall depends to its thickness.
Pyroclastic flows mostly contain two parts:
1. Lower or basal flow of coarse fragments
of the materials listed above
2. Turbulent cloud of ash that rises above the basal flow (as may fall over wide areas downwind
from the flow)

CLASSIFICATION OF PYROCLASTS
Pyroclastic flows form in different ways:
Collapse of eruption column:
during a highly explosive eruption, the column ejected upwards into the atmosphere cools and
can become too cool and dense to maintain upward momentum.
ASH
LAPILLI
BLOCKS AND BOMBS
"Boiling over"
from eruptive vent: during an explosive eruption, material is erupted without forming a high
plume and rapidly moves down slope.
Collapse of lava domes or flows:
The fronts of lava flows or domes can become so steep that they collapse due to gravitational
force.
Volcanic explosions expel fragments following ballistic trajectories.
The volcanic ballistic projectiles represent a hazard due to their high velocities and
temperatures.
They may affect people, ecology, infrastructure, and aircraft.
In order to avoid volcanic ballistic projectile-related hazards, a map can be constructed.
VOLCANIC
GASES !
•Volcanic gases of the volcanoes on the continental margins ( the ring of fire ) are
compositionally more versatile and variable.
•Most of the common constituents of volcanic gases are hazardous to humans and other living
forms in elevated concentrations.
•Volcanic gas can also be directly harmful to humans, animals, plants, agricultural crops, and
property. Usually, the hazards from volcanic gases are most severe in the areas immediately
surrounding volcanoes, especially on volcano flanks downwind of active vents and fumaroles.
•Lava flows are the least hazardous of all processes in volcanic eruptions.
•Lava flows as you can see don't move very fast so people rarely get killed by them.
•The biggest hazard of lava flows is that they destroy property.
•Another hazard associated with lava flows (as well as other hot volcanic material) is they can
melt snow and ice which can produce flooding.
PACIFIC RING OF FIRE MAP
Prepare
in Advance !
1. Assembling an emergency preparedness kit.
2. Creating a household evacuation plan that includes your pets.
3. Staying informed about your community’s risk and response plans.
Staying Safe During a Volcanic Eruption
Listen to a local station for updated emergency information and instructions.
Follow any evacuation orders issued by authorities, and put your emergency plan into action
If indoors, close all window, doors, and dampers to keep volcanic ash from entering.
If You Are Outdoors
Seek shelter indoors if possible.
Stay out of designated restricted zones.
Avoid low-lying areas, areas downwind of the volcano, and river valleys downstream of the
volcano.
Staying Safe After a Volcanic Eruption
1. Let friends and family know you’re safe.
2. If evacuated, return only when authorities say it is safe to do so.
3. Continue listening to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio for updated information and
instructions.
4. If people around you are injured, practice CHECK, CALL, CARE. Check the scene to be sure
it’s safe for you to approach, call for help, and if you are trained, provide first aid to those in
need until emergency responders can arrive.
Potential
volcano-related
hazards