The Cellar - View Single Post

Joe · 01-14-2002, 11:59 AM

Pompeii and Herculaneum were both hit by pyroclastic flows, glowing avalanches of superheated gas and fine rock particles that can travel at hundreds of kilometers per hour. I think something like ten of these were produced during momentary lulls in the 79 A.D. eruption. When the eruption power would cease, the cloud of heavier-than-air gas and rock that had been exploding out of the crater would suddenly have nothing holding it up, and would fall back to earth and run down the sides of the mountain like water.

Next to mudflows, pyroclastic flows are probably the deadliest things that a volcano can produce. They move so fast that by the time you see one, it's probably too late to get out of the way.

It is said that the city walls actually parted the first several flows, but that later in the night they became too intense and the defenses were overcome.

01-14-2002, 11:59 AM	#6
Joe Master of the Domain Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: AZ Posts: 221	Time capsule nothing Pompeii and Herculaneum were both hit by pyroclastic flows, glowing avalanches of superheated gas and fine rock particles that can travel at hundreds of kilometers per hour. I think something like ten of these were produced during momentary lulls in the 79 A.D. eruption. When the eruption power would cease, the cloud of heavier-than-air gas and rock that had been exploding out of the crater would suddenly have nothing holding it up, and would fall back to earth and run down the sides of the mountain like water. Next to mudflows, pyroclastic flows are probably the deadliest things that a volcano can produce. They move so fast that by the time you see one, it's probably too late to get out of the way. It is said that the city walls actually parted the first several flows, but that later in the night they became too intense and the defenses were overcome.