Volcanic bomb
A volcanic bomb or lava bomb is a mass of molten rock larger than 64 mm (2.5 inches) in diameter. It forms when a volcano throws viscous pieces of lava during a volcanic eruption.[1] They cool into solid objects before they reach the ground. They are still very hot when they reach the ground, because they are still partly molten inside. Because volcanic bombs cool after they leave the volcano, they are extrusive igneous rocks.[1] Volcanic bombs can be thrown many kilometers from an erupting fissure vent. They often get aerodynamic shapes during their flight. Lava bombs can be extremely large; the 1935 eruption of Mount Asama in Japan expelled bombs measuring 5–6 m (16-20 ft) in diameter up to 600 m (2,000 ft) from the vent. Volcanic bombs are a significant volcanic hazard, and can cause severe injuries and death to people in an eruption zone. At Galeras volcano in Colombia in 1993 six people near the summit were killed and several seriously injured by lava bombs when the volcano erupted unexpectedly.[2] On July 16, 2018, 23 people were injured on a tour boat near the Kilauea volcano as a result of a basketball-sized lava bomb from the 2018 lower Puna eruption.[3][4]
Volcanic bombs are known to occasionally explode from internal gas pressure as they cool, but usually most of the damage they cause is when they hit. As they are still hot when they land, they often cause a fire to start. Bomb explosions are most often observed in "bread-crust" type bombs.[5]
Gallery
"Fusiform" type volcanic bomb. Capelinhos Volcano, Faial Island, Azores
"Almond" type volcanic bomb found in the Cinder Cones region of the Mojave National Preserve, California
"Bread-crust" type volcanic bomb at Vulcania, Puy-de-Dôme, France
Lava bomb at Strohn, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, with a diameter of 5 meters and a mass of 120 tons. It was caused by a volcanic eruption in 8300 BC
Volcanic Bomb Media
Various volcanic bombs in the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo, Japan
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Bomb". United States Geological Survey. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
- ↑ Broad, William J. (February 9, 1993). "When a Volcano Turns Deadly for Those Studying Its Moods". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/books/01/04/15/specials/volcano.html. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
- ↑ "Hawaii volcano: At least 23 injured as 'lava bomb' hits tourist boat". USA Today. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
- ↑ "23 injured after basketball-sized 'lava bomb' crashes through roof of Hawaiian tour boat". The Washington Post.
- ↑ "Breadcrust Bomb". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 17 July 2018.