Volcanic Hazards

Group 2
 1. No talking while the reporter is discussing infront of you.
2. No sleeping
3. No using of cellphones
4. Listen to the reporter that is discussing infront of you.
5. Please participate !!

Note: if you break our rules there will be a deduction on your scores in our assessment so
Please participate and follow our rules. Tenkyu vv much !!
At the end of the lesson students should be able to:

1. Define what is volcanic hazards.

2. Know the different types of volcanic hazards.
3. Know what to do before,during, and after volcanic eruption.
 Volcanic Hazards

A volcanic hazard refers to any potentially dangerous volcanic process (e.g.

lava flows, pyroclastic flows, ash). A volcanic risk is any potential loss or
damage as a result of the volcanic hazard that might be incurred by persons,
property, etc. or which negatively impacts the productive
capacity/sustainability of a population. Risk not only includes the potential
monetary and human losses, but also includes a population's vulnerability. The
definitions of hazard and risk are not well-defined.
 Volcanic Hazards

 Volcanoes can be exciting and fascinating, but also very dangerous. Any kind of volcano is
capable of creating harmful or deadly phenomena, whether during an eruption or a period of
quiescence. Understanding what a volcano can do is the first step in mitigating volcanic
hazards, but it is important to remember that even if scientists have studied a volcano for
decades, they do not necessarily know everything it is capable of. Volcanoes are natural
systems, and always have some element of unpredictability.
Volcano Hazards
Major Volcanic Causes of Death
 Volcanic Hazards

 Was made in 1991 by Maurice and Katia Krafft for UNESCO following the
unnecessary, loss of life at Nevada del Ruiz in Colombia in 1985.

 The aim was to clearly and simply illustrate volcanic hazards, so that
populations living on, or close to, volcanoes could be better
informed.

 Tragically the Kraffts were killed while filming on Unzen volcano, Japan
in 1991.
Types of volcanic hazards
 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 generally occur on or near stratovolcanoes, such as those of the Aleutian volcanic

arc in Alaska and the Cascade Range in the Western U.S.

 Ash fall

A "Hard Rain" of Abrasive Particles. Volcanic ash consists of tiny jagged particles of rock and
natural glass blasted into the air by a volcano.

Ash falls from continued explosive jetting of fine volcanic particles into high
ash clouds generally do not cause any direct fatalities. However, where the
ash accumulates more than a few centimetres, collapsing roofs and failure
of crops are major secondary hazards.
 Pyroclastic Flow

Pyroclastic flows contain a high-density mix of hot lava blocks, pumice, ash and
volcanic gas. They move at very high speed down volcanic slopes, typically
following valleys.

Most pyroclastic flows consist of two parts: a lower (basal) flow of coarse fragments that moves along
the ground, and a turbulent cloud of ash that rises above the basal flow. Ash may fall from this cloud
over a wide area downwind from the pyroclastic flow.
 Ballistic projectile

Are volcanic materials which are directly ejected from the volcano's vent with force and trajectory. These
objects endanger life and property due to the force of impact of falling fragments, but this occurs only
close to an eruption vent.
 Volcanic Gases

Volcanic gases are gases given off by active volcanoes. These include gases trapped in cavities in
volcanic rocks, dissolved or dissociated gases in magma and lava, or gases emanating directly from
lava or indirectly through ground water heated by volcanic action.

The principal components of volcanic gases are water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur
either as sulfur dioxide (SO2) (high-temperature volcanic gases) or hydrogen sulfide (H2S) (low-
temperature volcanic gases), nitrogen, argon, helium, neon, methane, carbon monoxide and
hydrogen
 Lava Flow

Lava flows are streams of molten rock that pour or ooze from an erupting vent. Lava is
erupted during either nonexplosive activity or explosive lava fountains.

The speed at which lava moves across the ground depends on several factors, including (1) type of
lava erupted and its viscosity; (2) steepness of the ground over which it travels; (3) whether the lava
flows as a broad sheet, through a confined channel, or down a lava tube; and (4) rate of lava
production at the vent.
 High Risk Volcanoes

Which of the 500 or so active volcanoes, or the 1300 dormant volcanoes that have erupted in the last 10,000
years are considered high risk?

Criteria are based on:-

 Past eruptive history.

 Prevalence of explosive eruptions.
 Evidence for seismic activity or ground deformation (changes in tilt, distance, height).
 Proximity to population.
89 High risk volcanoes have been identified:-

 42 in Southeast Asia.
 40 in the Americas and Caribbean.
 7 in Europe and Africa.

DANGER!!
Lack of information, or a long dormant period, may exclude
potentially hazardous volcanoes from this list (e.g. Mount
Lamington, 1955; El Chichon, 1982).
 Forecasting and Monitoring Eruptions

Long-Term Short-Term

 Identification of high-risk volcanoes.  Volcano monitoring in real-time.

 Mapping and identifying past volcanic hazards
– prepare a volcanic hazards map.
 Long-term forecasts
 Eruption forecasting and prediction.
 Volcanic emergency management and planning
– involves government and local authorities, civil
defense,
park or forest service.
Seismograph
Seismic Activity

 Increase in seismic activity prior to an

eruption is one of the better forecasting
tools.

 Also, the nature of the quake may prove

useful. The upper two examples reflect
breaking rock (similar to tectonic quakes),
whereas the lower two are indicative of
magma movement.
 Volcano Alert System
Stage Observations Actions

I (green) Volcano in a normal state None

II (yellow) Volcano is “restless”, increase Alert authorities

in seismicity, deformation,
plumes of steam or gas

Eruption within weeks or months Public made aware of problem

II (orange) Dramatic increase in above activity small ash and
steam eruptions

Eruption within days or weeks Evacuation planned

IV (red Continuous seismic activity increased eruptive Evacuate public from hazard zones
activity
Eruption within hours or days
 What to do before, during, and after a volcanic eruption

Before
1. Each one should be aware of the dangers that volcanic eruptions pose to lives and be prepared to
whatever circumstances the eruption may bring.
2. Prepare all necessary things to bring once evacutiion is needed.
3. Prioritize the safety of kids before other things.

During

1. Avoid all low-lying places because lava flows and mudflows are more likely to pass here.
2. Seek cover in case of ash falls and rock falls.
3. If you are inside a house, close all doors and windows to avoid ashes from getting inside.
4. Stay in the evacuation center unit further instruction. Do not attempt to leave the place unless told to do.
5. Listen to the radio
 After

1. Go back to your house but leave the kids behind someone who can take care of them while you check
your house.
2. Clean everything around and check all damages incurred.
3. Use masks while cleaning ash and other debris.
4. Wait for further anouncements related to the volcano activites.
5. Make sure that your house is still safe for all of you.
 !
Any questions?
QUIZ TIME !!!
Part 1: Fill In The Blanks
1. A volcanic risk is any potential loss or damage as a result of the _________ that
might be incurred by persons, property, etc.

2. _______ are natural systems, and always have some element of unpredictability.

3. Increase in ________ prior to an eruption is one of the better forecasting

tools.

4. The principal components of __________ are water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide
(CO2)
Part 2: Matching Type
1) A "Hard Rain" of Abrasive Particles
a. Lahar
2) Are volcanic materials which are directly
ejected from the volcano's vent with force b. Pyroclastic Flow
and trajectory.
c. Volcanic Gases
3) Small seasonal events are sometimes referred
to as "debris flows”. d. Ash Fall
4) Lava is erupted during either nonexplosive
activity or explosive lava fountains. e. Ballistic Projectile
5) are gases given off by active volcanoes.
f. Lava Flow
6) contain a high-density mix of
hot lava blocks, pumice, ash and volcanic gas.
Part 3: Essay (5 pts)
1. As a human being how can volcanic harzards be prevented?