Volcanic Hazards
Describe the hazards associated with a volcanic eruption from your group’s volcano
What population may be or has been affected by volcanic hazards from your volcano? Briefly describe an historic eruption if appropriate
Positives
How do population centers near this volcano benefit from being located near/adjacent to the volcano? If no population centers exist near your volcano…speculate how they would benefit
Sample Solution
Volcanic Hazards
There are many different kinds of hazards associated with volcanic eruptions, depending on the type of volcano and eruption. Some volcanoes typically produce highly explosive eruptions, such as in the subduction zones of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, and others produce less energetic eruptions, such as in Hawaii. Pyroclastic flows are a mixture of ash, volcanic gas, rocks, and lava that generally reaches temperatures of 390-1300F (200-700 degrees Celsius). These flows are mainly associated with volcanoes that have explosive eruptions, and they move down the volcanic slope at speeds greater than 50 miles per hour. A pyroclastic flow will destroy almost everything in its path, causes fires and floods, and bury everything under a mixture of rock, ash, and accumulated debris. Serious injuries and deaths are often associated with pyroclastic flows due to their high speed and destructive effects. Some notable examples of recent pyroclastic flows are the eruptions at El Chicon, Mexico (1982) and Mount Pinatubo, Philippines (1991).
