What is a pyroclastic flow and why is it so dangerous? | What If

583K views · 6K reactions | When a volcano erupts, pyroclastic flows are often the biggest danger to anyone nearby. These fast-flowing currents of rock, ash and hot gas are extremely difficult to study, so researchers created their own. Read the related Nature Geoscience paper here: https://go.nature.com/2Im1bYs | Nature Portfolio | Facebook

36K views · 374 reactions | Caught on cam: Boaters flee volcanic ash cloud | CTV News | Facebook

PYROCLASTIC FLOW A pyroclastic flow is a fast-moving current of extremely hot gas, volcanic ash, and rock fragments that rushes down the slopes of a volcano during explosive eruptions. These flows can reach speeds of over 320 km/h and temperatures exceeding 1,000 °C, making them one of the most dangerous volcanic hazards. Unlike lava flows, pyroclastic flows can travel great distances, destroy everything in their path, and cause widespread devastation due to their speed, heat, and suffocating as

17K views · 444 reactions | Pyroclastic flows (referred to more often...