5. Human System Impact - Volcanoes

An Explosive Eruption
If there were an explosive eruption in your area the effects of volcanoes could be devastating. During an explosive eruption the volcano will spew lava, magma and volcanic material which could travel several miles away from the mountain. The explosiveness of the eruption could also cause pyroclastic flows which would destroy anything within their path. The ash could also cause severe damage to structures depending on the amount of it and those who breathe it in would be at risk of choking on it.



Problems To Aircraft

Aircraft are some of the things that will feel the effects of volcanoes more than others. That is because the ash spewed by a volcano can negatively affect the engines in an aircraft. To make matters worse the problem has not gotten better. Pilots who have flown through a volcanic eruption complain about the fact that they lose power and when they apply the throttle the engine will become even hotter. When that happens more ash is melted and that creates abrasive material which ends up in the engine.

Effects On Cities And Towns

The effects of volcanoes on cities and towns after an eruption could vary from no effects at all to a catastrophe of immeasurable magnitude. A lot of the effects that a city will feel depend on the size of the explosion or eruption and the atmospheric conditions. It has happened before that the conditions will take away the ash from the city. On the other hand, the same conditions could direct all the harmful effects of the lava, the ashes and volcanic material straight into the city which could cause thousands of deaths or injuries.

To look at the effects of volcanoes in towns and cities it is a good idea to look at recent eruptions. When Mauna Loa erupted in 1950 the lava headed towards the city of Hilo. Another eruption that took place in 1973 took place on Heimaey, Iceland and the entire town was buried under cinder and lava. In 1960 Kilauea erupted and it buried the town of Kapoho and in 1980 when Mount St. Helens erupted the ash fell on several towns in the states of Oregon and Washington. There are several examples of this type of volcano impacts on cities and towns.