impacts of volcanic eruptions

tectonics

tephra: destroy ecosystems

• ash can carried thousands of km by prevailing winds, polluting huge areas of forests, rivers and other habitats, and destroying ecosystems

• ash can suffocate and kill wildlife

  • ash can cause blindness to birds with eyelids getting gummed together

tephra: destroys properties and infrastructure

• volcanic bombs, ranging from a few cm to the size of vehicles, can hit properties, damaging them

• ashfall can accumulate on roofs of building

• wehn saturated with water, weight of ash can double, cause building roofs to collapse

• being corrosive, ash weaken building structures, making them more likely to collapse

• thick blankets of ash can damage farmland, suufocating crops and destroying livelihood

tephra: disrupts services

• ash particles can damage plane engines, leading to closure of airspaces, disrupting air transportation services

tephra: cause injuries and fatalities

• volcanic bombs can hit people, causing injuries and loss of lives

  • ashfall can cause respiratory problems, eye irritation and suffocate people

example of tephra impacts

• 1991 mount pinatubo eruption in phillippines

• emitted huge amount of ash

• buried more than 180km square of forests in ash of about 25cm

• destroyed 800 km square of rice fields, affecting the livelihoods of many farmers

• seven airports in phillipines had to closed and many flights were cancelled, dsirupting transport

  • some plane were also damaged

volcanic gases: destroy ecosystems

• sulfur dioxide result in acid rain when react with water in teh air which can damage vegetation, soil and kill wildlife

• cold carbon dioxide is heavier than air so it can become concentrated in low lying volcanic areas such as river valleys

  • large amounts of carbon dioxide in the air can kill wildlife, and in soil can destroy vegetation

volcanic gases: destroy properties and infrastructure

• sulfur dioxide result in acid rain which can corode buildings and infrastructure

volcanic gases: threatens publics health can cause injuries and fatalities

• sulfur dioxide irritates skin, eyes, nose and throat

  • air containing over 3% carbon diopxide can cause headaches and breathing difficulties and when it exceeds 15% may cause death

lava flow: destroy ecosystem

• hot low silica lava can travel over some distances, destroying forests, other habitats and ecosystems in them

lava flow: destroy properties

• lava can burn through homes, properties and infrastructure

lava flow: disrupts services

• lava can destroy electricity and communication cables, and water and gas pipes, disrupting supply of these services

lava flow example

• 2018 kilauea eruption in hawaii

• far reaching lava flows destroyed more than 600 homes

• destroyed huge areas of forests and ecosystems

  • telephone and power lines were damaged causing widespread communication outrages

pyroclastic flows: destroy ecosystem

• huge areas of forest may be destroyed resulting in biodiversity loss

  • thick layers of ash cover the path of the flows, polluting huge areas of forests

pyroclastic flow: destroy properties and infrastructure

• the hot flows can burn through all homes, properties and infrastructure in their path

pyroclastic flow: dsirupts services

• the hot flows can destroy electricity and communication cables, and gas pipes disrupting supply of these services

pyroclastic flow: threaten public health and cause injuries and fatalities

• extreme temperatures can burn and kill people in a fraction of a seconde

xample of pyroclastic flow

• 2010 mount merapi eruption in indonesia

• blasted a series of pyroclastic flows down the slopes of the volcano which were inhabited by many villagers

• about 350 people were killed mostly due to burns and blast injuries

  • huge areas of the forest were burnt

lahar: destroy ecosystems

• l;ahar can cover forest and other ecosystems with thick mud which hardens like concrete destroying them

  • pollute rivers and killing aquatic life

lahar: destroy properties and infrastructure

• lahar can bury houses and buildings destroying them

  • lahar can cover farms with thick mud which hardens like concrete damaging them

lahar: disrupts services

• road and railways can be blcoked by debris making it difficult to rescue people or supply emergency aid

  • lahar can damage communication cables, water and gas pipes disrupting supply of these services

lahar: threatens public health and cause injuries and fatalities

• lahars can bury houses and residents resulting in loss of lives

example of lahars

• 1985 nevado del ruiz eruption in colombia

• release huge amount of ash and volcanic rocks which mnelt snow and ice

• meltwater mix with ash and rocks to form lahars

• fast moving lahars buried more than 20000 people in nearby town of armero within seconds

  • rivers were highly muddied by lahars killing many fish

volcanic landslides: destroys ecosystems

• fast moving debris can bury huge areas of forest and wetland

• debris from landslide pollute river killing aqauatic lifes

  • debris blocks rivers causing floods that can damage nearby ecosystems and properties

volcanic landslide: destroy properties and infrastructure

• debris buries villages and farms destroying properties and infrastructure

volcanic landslide: disrupt services

• debris can snap electricity and communication cables and water and gas pipes disrupting supply of these services

  • debris blocks roads and railways making it difficult to rescue people or supply emergency aid

volcanic landslides: cause injuries and fatalities

• debris can bury people or hit them , causing injruies and loss of lives

  • debris blocks rivers resulting in flood which can drown people

example of volanic landslide

• 1980 mt st helens eruptions in usa: north face of the volcanic cone collapsed

• cause volcanic landslides that travel as far as 23km from volcano

  • destroyed huge areas of land and killed many wildlife