Effects of volcanic eruption

In 1815 , Tambora volcano (Sumbawa island, Indonesia) had vigorously erupted their
magma that caused thousands of humans life. Estimated 92,000 people lost their lived around
the world resulted from this tragedy. Part of it which is 10,000 people were killed by
pyroclastic flows and falling volcanic debris. While 82,000 people were killed around the
world due to drastic change of temperature which is will be discuss in next paragraph. These
tragedy has recorded that the eruption of volcano not only affect the people that live around it
but also affect the people all around the world.
Resulted from the eruption can cause floods, pyroclastic flows and mud flows that can
bury forest, town and villagers less than 1 minute. This tragedy will cause thousands of
people that live around the volcano loss their live and lose in property. Every year average
around 1000 people become victim to this natural phenomena. This number includes not only
victims during the volcanic eruptions but also die from starvation after crop failures,
pollution of environment and several other diseases. Heavy ash that fall from volcanic
eruption can cause damage to buildings and collapse of roofs that can be deadly for people
within the buildings. Ash and toxic gases that came from volcanic eruption may cause
serious health diseases from inhalation. Patients with chronic bronchitis, emphysema and
asthma are most affected people and their disease may be worsen due to inhaled the polluted
air resulted from the volcanic eruption.
At present, approximately 9% of human population which is 500 million people, lives
within the range of volcanoes that may threaten to explode. There are estimated 550 active
volcanoes and many of them experiencing rapid of growth human population such as capital
city of Mexico, Japan and Philippines. It was recorded in history that the eruption of
volcanoes may cause total fatality to human lives and civilization.
 Articles review on the history of volcanic activities and it effect

Mortality Injury Morbidity Displaceme

Article Event Summary (n=7) (n=4) (n=6) nt (n=2)
Eisele et Mount St Documents 53 deaths at Not Not reported Not reported
al., 198116 Helens, mortality time of reported
USA, 1980 attributed to publication
the Mount St. (35 dead, 18
Helens presumed
eruption dead), mostly
due to
asphyxia;
proximity was
a key risk
factor for
mortality
Merchant Mount St Evaluates 32 deaths Primarily Increase in Not reported
et al, Helens, resulting reported from respirator emergency
198223 USA, 1980 health asphyxia (19), y room
effects in burns (6), problems respiratory
surrounding falling as a result admissions
areas of objects (4), of ash and
Washington fall (1), blast exposure; respiratory
state injury (1), and also conditions in
unknown (1) ocular high exposure
irritation groups
Fraunfeld Mount St Assesses Not reported Not No long term Not reported
er et al, Helens, ocular reported ocular or
198339 USA, 1980 effects, ash respiratory
exposure, effects from
and ash exposure;
emergency freq. of
room complaints
surveillance increases with
data ash exposure
Bernstein Mount St Considers 48 deaths 12 injured, Respiratory Not reported
et al, Helens, issues reported; from effects due to
198622 USA, 1980 surrounding among the 25 burns or ash inhalation
forecasting autopsied, ash were
of volcanic causes of inhalation; associated
events death were 72% of with prior lung
ash survivors conditions,
asphyxiation, in the occupation,
(17), thermal damage exposure time,
injuries (5), areas and distance
trauma (3) injured
Heggie et Kilauea, Describes Not reported 472 Dehydration, Not reported
al, 200440 USA, 1993 injuries and injured, respiratory
illnesses mostly irritation, and
among hikers scrapes headaches
in active lava and were
flow areas of abrasions; commonly
Volcanoes novice reported
National Park hikers
 Mortality Injury Morbidity Displaceme
Article Event Summary (n=7) (n=4) (n=6) nt (n=2)
were at
increased
risk
Dent et Rabaul, Reports the 10 deaths 22 injuries Not reported ~ 70,000
al, 199541 Papua New impact of the reported from reported
Guinea, Rabaul asphyxia (3),
1994 eruption on road trauma
surrounding (3), frail/ill/
populations stranded (2),
lightning (1),
flood (1)
Bourdier Kelut, Describes 32 deaths Not Not reported Not reported
et al, Indonesia, eruptive reported, the reported
199742 1990 process; majority of
little which were
discussion of due to roof
human collapse
impact
Horrocks Monserrat, Overview of 19 deaths Not Not reported ~7,000
, 199825 1995 the effects of reported reported displaced;
continuing >60%
volcanic resettled off
activity on the island
Monserrat
Grattan Laki Explores the Volcanogenic Not Difficulty Not reported
et al, Fissure, health pollution and reported breathing, eye
200327 Iceland, impact of dry fog, and and skin
1783 volcanogenic high irritation,
gasses temperatures headaches,
across contributed loss of
Europe using to excess appetite, and
historical mortality in fatigue were
data England associated
during the with dry fog
summer of
1783
Carlsen Eyjafjallajo Estimates Not reported Not Half of the
et al, kull 2010 the physical reported asthmatics
201243 eruption in and mental had more
Iceland health pronounced
effects of the symptoms
Eyjafallajokul during
l volcanic eruption ,7%
eruption on experienced
nearby post traumatic
residents. stress, Short-
term ash
exposure was
associated
with upper
airway
irritation.
 A thick layer of volcanic ash was covered over an area size of France that was inhabited
by several millions of people during an eruption of Tambora volcano on Sumbawa Island in
1815. This tragedy prevent crop production for many years due to land covered by the ash.
Besides that, volcanic ash that mix with water will produce lahars, fast moving mudflows
that will bury everything in their way. During eruptions of volcanoes, atmosphere are
polluted with various of gasses that dissolves in magma. These gasses may release from
magma that either remain under ground or rising toward the surface.
Water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) are the most abundant
gasses that filled inside the magma.

Examples of volcanic gas compositions, in volume percent

concentrations
(from Symonds et. al., 1994)

Volcano Kilauea Summit Erta` Ale Momotombo

Tectonic Style Hot Spot Divergent Plate Convergent Plate
Temperature 1170°C 1130°C 820°C

H20 37.1 77.2 97.1

C02 48.9 11.3 1.44

S02 11.8 8.34 0.50

H2 0.49 1.39 0.70

CO 1.51 0.44 0.01

H2S 0.04 0.68 0.23

HCl 0.08 0.42 2.89

HF --- --- 0.26

Volcanic gasses that cause greatest hazard to people, animals, agriculture and property
are sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen fluoride. Acid rain and air pollution are the
result of sulfur dioxide present in the atmosphere that came from the volcanic eruption. High
volume of sulfur aerosols that released into stratosphere can lead to lower surface
temperature and depletion of Earth’s ozone layer around the world. Due to heavier density
than air, carbon dioxide may flow into low lying areas and accumulated in the soil. Due to
acidic properties of carbon dioxide, it can be lethal to people, animals and vegetation.
Massive cloud of ashes that flow into the troposphere during volcanic eruption may flow
upward to the stratosphere ( upper atmosphere layer where ozone gas presence ). Sulfur
aerosols are the largest contributor in modifying the world climate, warming the stratosphere
and cooling the troposphere.
Around 130 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) are released into the atmosphere due to
volcanic activity. CO2 does not cause a direct hazard to living things because it will diluted to
low concentrations very quickly. But in certain conditions, CO 2 may become lethal to living
things such as breathing air with more than 30% CO 2 can cause unconsciousness and lead to
death. As the ash and gasses spread in the stratosphere around the world they may absorb and
scatter enough sunlight to cause the average global temperature decrease drastically. In 1991
eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines, cause the amount of sunlight that reached
Earth’s surface was estimated to have decreased between 2% and 4%. This drastic change of
temperature cause decline in crop production around the world and lead to starvation.