Don't be embarrassed Pops, many...

Don't be embarrassed Pops, many people don't know what a pyroclastic flow is. Thankfully with my extensive and wide reaching knowledge quite simply knowing no bounds I can enlighten you all.
Pyroclastic flows are high-density mixtures of hot, dry rock fragments and hot gases that move away from the vent that erupted them at high speeds. They may result from the explosive eruption of molten or solid rock fragments, or both. They may also result from the nonexplosive eruption of lava when parts of dome or a thick lava flow collapses down a steep slope. Most pyroclastic flows consist of two parts: a basal flow of coarse fragments that moves along the ground, and a turbulent cloud of ash that rises above the basal flow. Ash may fall from this cloud over a wide area downwind from the pyroclastic flow.
OK, OK I may have 'liberated' this knowledge from the internet! So in summary it looks as though it would probably be quite uncomfortable to be in the middle of one. My considered advice is stay clear of them.

written by Ben Johnson on October 20, 2006

Heading South?