Hazards Associated With Volcanic Eruptions

Question 1

lava flows

Answer 1

basic lava can run considerable distances eg Hawaii 2015 travelled 20km
acidic lava eg rhyolite -> will burn, bulldoze + bury
rarely cause injuries

Question 2

pyroclastic flows

Answer 2

very hot gases (500C+), ash + rock fragments at high speed -> destroy everything in their path
inhalation causes almost instant death

Question 3

tephra

Answer 3

material ejected from volcano -> can bury farmland in layers of ash, destroyed crops transport can be disrupted eg Iceland Eyjafallajokull 2010 cancelled 100,000 flights
buildings can collapse due to weight of ash

Question 4

toxic gases

Answer 4

CO, CO2, SO2 -> deadly threat

SO2 + water = acid rain -> can damage crops + pollute water + soils

Question 5

lahars

Answer 5

mud flow (consistency of concrete)
can travel up to 50km/hr everything in path is destroyed or buried

Question 6

floods

Answer 6

vast quantities of water can accumulate until they find an exit - can cause floods (jokulhlaup)

Question 7

tsunami

Answer 7

violent eruption of some island volcanoes can cause massive displacement of ocean water + tsunami waves can travel at speeds of 600km/hr

Question 8

what is a long term hazard associated with volcanic eruptions?

Answer 8

emission of ash into atmosphere can affect the climate as the sun is blocked + sulphuric acid reflects insolations