A "pyroclastic flow" is a powerful and dangerous volcanic event where a mixture of hot gases, ash, and rocks rapidly flows down the side of a volcano. It moves incredibly fast, like a superheated avalanche, and can destroy everything in its path.
Sentences with «pyroclastic flow»
Scientists are now watching to see whether the volcano repeats the violent eruptions of 1963, when superheated gases and volcanic material raced down the mountain in a series of pyroclastic flows, killing more than 1000 people. (sciencemag.org)
According to Babad Lombok, records of the island written on palm leaves in Old Javanese, Samalas erupted catastrophically before the end of the 13th century, devastating surrounding villages — including Lombok's capital at the time, Pamatan — with ash and fast - moving sweeps of hot rock and gas called pyroclastic flows. (sciencemag.org)
Volcanologists warn that the main hazards of a large eruption are hot and fast - moving avalanches of rocks, dust and gas that can not be outrun, known as pyroclastic flows, as well as mudflows and ashfall. (theguardian.com)