1.5 - Nyiragongo

Question 1

What is the name of the volcano in the DRC?

Answer 1

Mt. Nyiragongo

Question 2

What were the impacts of the 2002 eruption of Nyiragongo?

Answer 2

147 killed
400,000 evacuated

Question 3

How large is the lava lake at Nyiragongo?

Answer 3

2km wide

Question 4

How fast can pyroclastic flows travel?

Answer 4

700km/hr

Question 5

What are the properties of the lava at Nyiragongo?

Answer 5

• low silica concentration
• lava has low viscosity
• can move at 110 mph

Question 6

What risks does the volcano crater present?

Answer 6

• If magma erupts with high pressure, crater walls can collapse
• can result in an earthquake
• around 5.0MW
• if crater walls collapse:
• lava lake stored within crater flows out rapidly due to back pressure

Question 7

Which gases are emitted when a volcano erupts?

Answer 7

• fluorine
• methane
• carbon dioxide

Question 8

Why is methane dangerous?

Answer 8

It can combust when ignited

Question 9

Why is fluorine dangerous?

Answer 9

It is poisonous to humans and is more dense than oxygen

Question 10

What risks does ash pose?

Answer 10

Ash fall can bury homes, people and farmland
- can be very heavy as thick blanket of ash falls on them.

Question 11

When do Jökulhlaup occur?

Answer 11

Glaciers near volcanoes are heated, creates a large amount of meltwater

Question 12

What possible hazards can arise from an eruption?

Answer 12

• Lava flows
• Gas emissions
• Pyroclastic flows
• Lahars
• Ash