Human survival in volcanic eruptions: Thermal injuries in pyroclastic surges, their causes, prognosis and emergency management

Baxter, Peter; Jenkins, Susanna F.; Seswandhana, Rosadi; Komorowski, Jean‐Christophe; Dunn, Ken; Purser, David; Voight, B.; Shelley, Ian

doi:10.1016/j.burns.2017.01.025

Cited by 48 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 31 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…As to the effects of exposure to thermal destruction, a huge literature is available [ 54 , 65 – 68 , 79 , 93 – 96 ]. As to the finding of dark stained bone at Herculaneum, bone black in color represents carbonized skeletal material in direct contact with heat or flames [ 97 , 98 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A dilute pyroclastic density current or surge is typically an intensely hot (200–500 °C) fast-moving cloud (100 to 300 km/hr) of fine ash, in an environment being low in free oxygen content and rich of superheated steam and other volcanic gases [ 6 , 48 ]. In such conditions survival is likely to be impossible, particularly due to the intense heat reached in areas closer to the vent [ 54 ]. In pyroclastic density currents, thermal injury may be at least as important as asphyxia in causing immediate death [ 48 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the main body of a proximal surge temperatures may be as high as 400–500 °C, whereas in distal regions temperatures of 200–300 °C are more common [ 48 , 54 ]. These temperatures are analogous to those of the 79 AD pyroclastic surges that hit first Herculaneum and later Pompeii, as determined with various methods, including TRM on lithic clasts [ 55 – 58 ], bone analysis vs heating experiments [ 42 ], and charcoal reflectance [ 59 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

A hypothesis of sudden body fluid vaporization in the 79 AD victims of Vesuvius

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In AD 79 the town of Herculaneum was suddenly hit and overwhelmed by volcanic ash-avalanches that killed all its remaining residents, as also occurred in Pompeii and other settlements as far as 20 kilometers from Vesuvius. New investigations on the victims' skeletons unearthed from the ash deposit filling 12 waterfront chambers have now revealed widespread preservation of atypical red and black mineral residues encrusting the bones, which also impregnate the ash filling the intracranial cavity and the ash-bed encasing the skeletons. Here we show the unique detection of large amounts of iron and iron oxides from such residues, as revealed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and Raman microspectroscopy, thought to be the final products of heme iron upon thermal decomposition. The extraordinarily rare preservation of significant putative evidence of hemoprotein thermal degradation from the eruption victims strongly suggests the rapid vaporization of body fluids and soft tissues of people at death due to exposure to extreme heat.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A hypothesis of sudden body fluid vaporization in the 79 AD victims of Vesuvius

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The volume of surge deposits has been estimated at 1.8 × 10 6 m 3 [ Cronin et al , ], 3.2 × 10 6 m 3 [ Charbonnier et al , ], and 3.52 × 10 6 m 3 [ Komorowski et al , ]. The temperature of the surge has been estimated to be less than 320°C [ Jenkins et al , ; Trolese et al , ; Baxter et al , ]. This is compatible with the value obtained by Voight and Davis [] for the 1994 eruption of Merapi ( T ~ 200–300°C) and by Charbonnier and Gertisser [] for the 2006 eruption ( T > 165°C).…”

Section: The 2010 Eruption Of Merapi Volcanomentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulation of block‐and‐ash flows and ash‐cloud surges of the 2010 eruption of Merapi volcano with a two‐layer model

et al. 2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A new depth‐averaged model has been developed for the simulation of both concentrated and dilute pyroclastic currents and their interactions. The capability of the model to reproduce a real event is tested for the first time with two well‐studied eruptive phases of the 2010 eruption of Merapi volcano (Indonesia). We show that the model is able to reproduce quite accurately the dynamics of the currents and the characteristics of the deposits: thickness, extent, volume, and trajectory. The model needs to be tested on other well‐studied eruptions and the equations could be refined, but this new approach is a promising tool for the understanding of pyroclastic currents and for a better prediction of volcanic hazards.

show abstract

“…In addition to that, associated dilute-detached deposits further widen the invaded area especially on the medial-distal zone (5-16 km). These two types of unconfined PDCs become the main cause of the high casualties in medial-distal zone (Baxter et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emplacement Temperature of the Overbank and Dilute-Detached Pyroclastic Density Currents of Merapi 5 November 2010 Events using Reflectance Analysis of Associated Charcoal

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Merapi eruption in 2010 produced 17 km high column of ash and southward pyroclastic density current (PDC). Based on the deposits characteristics and distributions, the PDC is divided into channel and overbank facies (pyroclastic flow), and associated diluted PDC (pyroclastic surge). The hot overbank PDCs and the associated dilute-detached PDCs are the main cause of high casualty (367 fatalities) in medial-distal area (5–16 km), especially near main valley of Kali Gendol. We reported the emplacement temperature of these two deposits using reflectance analysis of charcoal. We used both entombed charcoals in the overbank PDC and charcoals in singed house nearby. Samples were collected on 6–13 km distance southward from summit. Charcoalification temperatures of the entombed charcoals represent deposition temperature of the overbank PDCs, whereas those of charcoals in the singed house resembles temperature of the associated dilute-detached PDCs. Results show mean random reflectance (Ro%) values of entombed charcoal mainly range 1.1–1.9 correspond to temperature range 328–444 °C, whereas charcoal in singed house range 0.61–1.12 with estimated temperature range 304–358 °C. The new temperature data of the dilute-detached PDCs in the medial-distal area is crucial for assessing impact scenarios for exposed populations as it affects them lethally and destructively

show abstract

Human survival in volcanic eruptions: Thermal injuries in pyroclastic surges, their causes, prognosis and emergency management

Cited by 48 publications

References 31 publications

A hypothesis of sudden body fluid vaporization in the 79 AD victims of Vesuvius

A hypothesis of sudden body fluid vaporization in the 79 AD victims of Vesuvius

Simulation of block‐and‐ash flows and ash‐cloud surges of the 2010 eruption of Merapi volcano with a two‐layer model

Emplacement Temperature of the Overbank and Dilute-Detached Pyroclastic Density Currents of Merapi 5 November 2010 Events using Reflectance Analysis of Associated Charcoal

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About