Risk of living in volcanic areas

Question 1

Risk 1: Massive destruction by volcanic materials

Answer 1

• Volcanic materials produced by volcanic eruptions include lava and pyroclasts that consist of ash, rock fragments, and volcanic bombs that can lead to widespread damage to properties and loss of lives.
• Low-silica lava moves rapidly over long distances, causing damage to larger areas.
• A pyroclastic flow can destroy everything in the path with hot fragments, ranging from ash to boulders traveling at speeds greater than 200 meters per second.
• Volcanic bombs of heated rocks can fall in areas damage to properties surrounding the volcano and causing damage to property

Question 2

Example of Mass destruction by volcanic materials

Answer 2

The ongoing eruption in Kilauea in Hawaii since 1983 has destroyed many homes and highways due to the presence of volcanic bombs.

Question 3

Risk 2: Pollution

Answer 3

• Ash particles that are ejected during a volcanic eruption can end up disrupting human activities over a large distance from a volcano.
• Volcanic eruptions release harmful gases such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide.
• Fine ash particles of less than 0.001 millimeters can be carried by wind over thousands of kilometers and impact areas further away from the eruption source.

Question 4

Example of pollution

Answer 4

When Mount Pinatubo erupted in 1991, it released millions of ash that resulted in many collapsed roofs and buried large tracts of farmlands.