Interestingly, the term lahar means lava. Geologists and volcanologists have adopted this word to refer to the flow that, on certain occasions, descends the slopes of volcanoes and valleys. The truth is that, although lahars do not seem to be as dangerous as lava flows, in reality they are one of the greatest dangers associated with volcanoes.
Continue reading this Green Ecologist article if you want to know what is a volcano lahar and how is it formed. In addition, we will also explain some of the dangers associated with lahars.
The term volcanic lahar refers to flow, composed of sediments of different sizes and water, which moves along the slopes of volcanoes or valleys. The speed with which lahars travel is closely related to the flow rate, the density of the flow, and the slope of the slope. When these three factors are enhanced, lahars can reach speeds of up to tens of kilometers per hour.
Once we understand what a volcano lahar is, we must know that they constitute a huge risk for the surrounding communities. Although when referring to lahars as flows we can think that their effect is similar to flooding, the truth is that lahars erode everything in their path, devastating and dragging buildings from their foundations. In addition, its danger increases depending on whether it is cold lahars or hot lahars.
Now, volcanic lahars can originate for different reasons, but in a general way we can include their causes in two groups:
If you are interested in knowing more about the Pyroclastic Flow: what it is and how it is formed, do not hesitate to read this article that we recommend.
As we have already seen in the previous section, lahars can be formed for various reasons. Regardless of its causes, for the formation of lahars to occur, 4 key factors are needed:
The greatest danger posed by lahars is that it's not easy foresee when it will happen and, even less, its magnitude. Depending on the size of the particles they transport and the speed that the lahar reaches, its erosive power can be very high.
On the other hand, the lahars that have occurred throughout history have shown that the immediate dangers are reflected rather in the infrastructure, since the fluid destroys everything in its path. However, the dangers that prevail after the disaster are associated with periods of famine and shortages and presence of diseases.
Fortunately, more and more are being implemented early warning systems. These systems warn about the formation of volcanic lahars from the beginning. We could say that they are very important systems, since they allow taking measures that contribute to reducing the risks associated with lahars. One of the simplest, but effective measures is evacuating the area. In turn, there are mitigation measures that are carried out prior to the occurrence of a volcanic lahar. An example of this are the canalization works and dams, as well as the extraction, in key areas, of rock fragments that increase the danger of the lahar.
To finish learning about the subject, you can read this article on Lava flows: what they are and types of Green Ecologist. You can also see this other video where it is explained how a volcano is formed.
If you want to read more articles similar to Lahar: what it is and how it is formedWe recommend that you enter our Nature Curiosities category.
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