The impact of pyroclastic density currents duration on humans: the case of the AD 79 eruption of Vesuvius

Dellino, Pierfrancesco; Dioguardi, Fabio; Isaia, Roberto; Sulpizio, Roberto; Mele, Daniela. 2021 The impact of pyroclastic density currents duration on humans: the case of the AD 79 eruption of Vesuvius. Scientific Reports, 11 (1), 4959. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-84456-7

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-84456-7

Abstract/Summary

Pyroclastic density currents are ground hugging gas-particle flows that originate from the collapse of an eruption column or lava dome. They move away from the volcano at high speed, causing devastation. The impact is generally associated with flow dynamic pressure and temperature. Little emphasis has yet been given to flow duration, although it is emerging that the survival of people engulfed in a current strongly depends on the exposure time. The AD 79 event of Somma-Vesuvius is used here to demonstrate the impact of pyroclastic density currents on humans during an historical eruption. At Herculaneum, at the foot of the volcano, the temperature and strength of the flow were so high that survival was impossible. At Pompeii, in the distal area, we use a new model indicating that the current had low strength and low temperature, which is confirmed by the absence of signs of trauma on corpses. Under such conditions, survival should have been possible if the current lasted a few minutes or less. Instead, our calculations demonstrate a flow duration of 17 min, long enough to make lethal the breathing of ash suspended in the current. We conclude that in distal areas where the mechanical and thermal effects of a pyroclastic density currents are diminished, flow duration is the key for survival.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-84456-7
ISSN:	2045-2322
Date made live:	15 Mar 2021 14:22 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/529898

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-84456-7

ISSN:

2045-2322

Date made live:

15 Mar 2021 14:22 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/529898