• Question: would it be possilble to stand right next to a volcano thats live or will it be too hot or would we die

    Asked by bobob to Davie, Gemma, James P, James V, Nuala on 29 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: James Verdon

      James Verdon answered on 29 Jun 2012:

      Hi bobob,

      That depends very much on the type of eruption. Some volcanoes erupt explosively, spewing out huge quantities of ash and hot gas. You would probably not survive if you were right next to one of those – the superheated gasses coming out can be at 1000 degree C, so you would be killed pretty instantly.

      Some volcanoes, though, erupt a lot more effusively. Basically, a river of lava bubbles up and flows away down the side, without and explosion and without much gas. If you were caught in the lava then you would be killed, but you can stand to the side and get fairly close without being killed (although it is pretty hot). Although I wouldn’t recommend it, in case more lava comes up and you can’t escape it can get caught.

      Here’s a video of someone getting pretty up-close and personal with a volcano:

    • Photo: James Pope

      James Pope answered on 29 Jun 2012:

      Hi bobob,

      Oneof my undergraduate teachers, has a picture of him stood right by a lava flow on Hawai, I can’t find it now, but will try and find the image and put it up for you!

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