VOLCANIC HAZARDS

Volcanic Gasses

Volcanic gases are gases given off by active (or, at times, by dormant) volcanoes. These
include gases trapped in cavities (vesicles) in volcanic rocks, dissolved or dissociated gases
in magma and lava, or gases emanating from lava, from volcanic craters or vents.

SOURCE OF VOLCANIC GASSES

Sources of volcanic gases on Earth includes: primordial and recycled constituents from the
Earth's mantle, assimilated constituents from the Earth's crust, groundwater and the
Earth's atmosphere.

Volcanic Gasses Includes

Water vapor, which is harmless. However, significant amounts of carbon dioxide, sulfur
dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen sulfide and
hydrogen halides can also be emitted from volcanoes. Depending on their concentrations,
these gases are all potentially hazardous to people, animals, agriculture, and property.

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF VOLCANIC GASES?

Health hazards can range from minor to life threatening. Exposure to acid gases such as
sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and hydrogen chloride can damage eyes and mucous
membranes along with the respiratory system and, under extreme conditions, can lead to
death.
Lava Flows

Stream-like flows of the incandescent molten rock erupted from the center.

Lava- a molten rock (or magma) that comes out of the Earth surface When a volcano
erupts

3 main Types of Lava Flow

Pahoehoe - has a shiny, smooth, glassy surface.

A'a- a rubbly flow, with a molten core, with higher viscosity
Blocky- similar to Aa, but even thicker (>20 m), with a blocky rather than rubbly surface.
Andesites, dacites and rhyolites tend to form blocky flows.

Pyroclastic Flows

A pyroclastic flow is a dense, fast-moving flow of solidified lava pieces, volcanic ash, and
hot gases. It is extremely dangerous to any living thing in its path.

2 Main ways Pyroclastic Flows might Form

1.)sometimes a volcano explodes and forms a fountain of hot pulverised rock and gas that
first rapidly rises into the sky and then falls back forming pyroclastic flows
2.)other times instead of an explosion, sticky lava oozes out of a volcano and piles up
around the summit.

A pyroclastic flow’s “broken pieces” consist of volcanic glass, crystals, and rocks such as
pumice or scoria. These solids have been heated and fragmented by an explosive eruption.
Heavier fragments roll downward along the ground, while smaller fragments float in a
stream of hot gases.

CAUSES

A common cause is when the column of lava, ash, and gases expelled from a volcano during
an eruption loses its upward momentum and falls back to the ground.

Pyroclastic flows are so fast and so hot that they can knock down, shatter, bury, or burn
anything in their path. Even small flows can destroy buildings, flatten forests, and scorch
farmland. Pyroclastic flows leave behind layers of debris anywhere from less than a meter
to hundreds of meters thick.

Ash Falls

WHAT IS VOLCANIC ASH AND HOW ASHFALL FORMS

Though called “ash,” volcanic ash is not the product of combustion, like the soft fluffy
material created by burning wood, leaves, or paper. Volcanic ash is hard, does not dissolve
in water, is extremely abrasive and mildly corrosive, and conducts electricity when wet.
Balistic Projectiles

Ballistic projectiles are one potentially lethal and damaging hazard produced in volcanic
eruptions. Ballistics are fragments of lava (bombs) or rock (blocks) ejected in explosive
eruptions.

Lahar

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.
Small seasonal events are sometimes referred to as “debris flows”, especially in the
Cascades.

Lahars, along with debris flows and debris avalanches are masses of rock, mud and water
that travel rapidly downslope and downstream under the action of gravity, Volcanoes are a
perfect setting for these events because of an abundance in the form of rain, snow or ice.

OTHER GEOLOGIC HAZARDS

Rock Avalanches

Rock avalanches originate on over-steepened slopes in weak rocks. They are uncommon but
can be catastrophic when they occur.

Rock Falls
Rock falls occur most commonly in closely jointed or weakly cemented materials on slopes
steeper than 40 degrees. While individual rock falls cause relatively few deaths and
limited damage, collectively, they rank as a major earthquake-induced hazard because they
are so frequent.

Snow Avalanche

A snow avalanche begins when an unstable mass of snow breaks away from a slope. The
snow picks up speed as it moves downhill, producing a river of snow and a cloud of icy
particles that rises high into the air.

Anthropogenic Pollution

Air pollution consists of chemicals or particles in the air that can harm the health of
humans, animals, and plants. It also damages buildings. Pollutants in the air take many
forms. They can be gases, solid particles, or liquid droplets.

Tephra Fall and Ballistic Projectiles

Tephra fall and ballistic projectiles endanger life and property by (1) the force of impact
of falling fragments, but this occurs only close to an eruption, (2) loss of agricultural lands
if burial is greater than 10 cm depth, (3) producing suspensions of fine-grained particles in
air and water which clogs filters and vents of motors, human lungs, industrial machines, and
nuclear power plants, and (4) carrying of noxious gases, acids, salts, and, close to the vent,
heat.

Coastal Flood
Coastal flooding is a sudden and abrupt inundation of a coastal environment caused by a
short-term increase in water level due to a storm surge and extreme tides. The magnitude
and extension depend on the coastal topography, storm surge conditions and broader
bathymetry of the coastal area. Coastal flooding normally occurs when dry and low-lying
land is submerged by seawater.

Dust Storm

A dust storm is a wall of dust and debris that is often blown into an area by strong winds
from thunderstorms. The wall of dust can be miles long and several thousand feet high. A
dust storm, also called a sandstorm, is a meteorological phenomenon common in arid and
semi-arid regions. Dust storms arise when a gust front or other strong wind blows loose
sand and dirt from a dry surface. Fine particles are transported by saltation and
suspension, a process that moves soil from one place and deposits it in another.

Glacier

A glacier is a persistent body of dense ice that is constantly moving under its own weight.
A glacier forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years,
often centuries. It acquires distinguishing features, such as crevasses and seracs, as it
slowly flows and deforms under stresses induced by its weight.

Permafrost & Periglacial hazards

Permafrost and periglacial hazards are caused by perennially frozen soil, rock, or
sediment—known as permafrost—and the landscape processes that result from extreme
seasonal freezing and thawing. Permafrost, defined as ground with a temperature that
remains at or below freezing (32° F or 0° C) for two or more consecutive years.

Karst

Karst is one of the environments in the world most vulnerable to natural and
human-induced hazards. Karst hazards involve fast-acting processes, both on the surface
and underground (e.g., collapse, subsidence, slope movements, and floods) and their effects
(e.g., sinkholes, degraded aquifers, and land surface). Karst hazards include sinkhole
flooding, sudden cover collapse, leakage around dams, collapse of lagoons resulting in waste
spills and radon infiltration into homes.

Ice Storm

An ice storm, also known as a glaze event or a silver storm is a type of winter storm
characterized by freezing rain. They are generally not violent storms but instead are
commonly perceived as gentle rains occurring at temperatures just below freezing. Heavy
accumulations of ice can bring down trees and topple utility poles and communication
towers.
Black Ice: Black ice is a deadly driving hazard defined as patchy ice on roadways or other
transportation surfaces that cannot easily be seen. It is often clear (not white) with the
black road surface visible underneath.Black ice can also form when roadways are slick from
rain and temperatures drop below freezing overnight.

Ice Jams: Long cold spells can cause rivers and lakes to freeze. A rise in the water level or
a thaw breaks the ice into large chunks which become jammed at manmade and natural
obstructions. Ice jams can act as a dam, resulting in severe flooding.

Ice Recreation: Ice on lakes and streams can be deadly.

Frost: frost develops under conditions similar to dew, except the temperatures of the
Earth's surface and earthbound objects fall below 32°F.

Cyclonic Storm

In meteorology, a cyclone is a large air mass that rotates around a strong center of low
atmospheric pressure, counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the
Southern Hemisphere as viewed from above (opposite to an anticyclone).Cyclones are
characterized by inward-spiraling winds that rotate about a zone of low pressure The
largest low-pressure systems are polar vortices and extratropical cyclones of the largest
scale (the synoptic scale)

General Types of Landslides

1.Slurps
2. Rockfall and topples
3.Mudslides
4. Debris slides and flow
5. Creep

Types of Sinkholes

1.Dissolution sinkholes
2. Cover-subsidence sinkholes
3.Cover-collapse sinkholes