Ash and Pumice, the Story of Pompeii
Angela R. Davis
Fresno Pacific University
PHYS-151-XON10 Geology and Planet Earth
September 24, 2015
Ash and Pumice, the Story of Pompeii Pompeii is a city arrested by time; it is beautifully situated on the Italian seaside with the Somma-Vesuvio complex dominating the skyline. Its ancient narrative is told in ash, pumice, and petrified masks of humanity. Mount Vesuvius is well known for its violent past as attested by the hundreds of victims encapsulated for generations. The Roman city of Pompeii lies seven miles southeast of Mt. Vesuvius and in the year 79AD a monumental eruption occurred that left twenty-five thousand people dead and left the area uninhabitable for three hundred …show more content…
Vesuvius has erupted about three dozen times since 79 A.D., most recently from 1913-1944. The 1913-1944 eruption is thought to be the end of an eruptive cycle that began in 1631. Studies of past eruptions and their deposits continue. The next eruption of Mt. Vesuvius could bring death to more than three million people residing in cities around the Bay of Naples. If it explodes everyone within a ten mile radius would be annihilated in the death zone, making it the largest catastrophic eruption in history. So, there is a need to keep close observation of the sight by the Italian government and scientist in their employ. They do this by taking examples of the gas produced in the 2000 ft. wide crater of the volcano called a fumarole, if there are significant changes it would be a possible indication of a new eruption. Pumice from the ruins of Pompeii is evidence of the power of Vesuvius. The lightness of weight is caused by volcanic gasses. Pumice is the only rock on earth that floats. In order to prepare for future disasters you have to learn from the past. Geologists are leading the way to discover ways to help save future lives. They reexamine the facts and geological clues that Vesuvius leaves them on regular bases. There is evidence of the volcano producing dense lava flows capable of obliterating everything in its path. The pyroclastic flow is probably its most dangerous weapon as they can generate heat up to nine hundred degrees. The pattern of the behavior of Vesuvius seems to be a period of quiet, then large explosion followed by the same. So, the danger seems to be the longer the volcano stays quiet, the greater the chance for its magma to generate. The hope is that the lessons learned from Vesuvius will one day help people from around the
Angela R. Davis
Fresno Pacific University
PHYS-151-XON10 Geology and Planet Earth
September 24, 2015
Ash and Pumice, the Story of Pompeii Pompeii is a city arrested by time; it is beautifully situated on the Italian seaside with the Somma-Vesuvio complex dominating the skyline. Its ancient narrative is told in ash, pumice, and petrified masks of humanity. Mount Vesuvius is well known for its violent past as attested by the hundreds of victims encapsulated for generations. The Roman city of Pompeii lies seven miles southeast of Mt. Vesuvius and in the year 79AD a monumental eruption occurred that left twenty-five thousand people dead and left the area uninhabitable for three hundred …show more content…
Vesuvius has erupted about three dozen times since 79 A.D., most recently from 1913-1944. The 1913-1944 eruption is thought to be the end of an eruptive cycle that began in 1631. Studies of past eruptions and their deposits continue. The next eruption of Mt. Vesuvius could bring death to more than three million people residing in cities around the Bay of Naples. If it explodes everyone within a ten mile radius would be annihilated in the death zone, making it the largest catastrophic eruption in history. So, there is a need to keep close observation of the sight by the Italian government and scientist in their employ. They do this by taking examples of the gas produced in the 2000 ft. wide crater of the volcano called a fumarole, if there are significant changes it would be a possible indication of a new eruption. Pumice from the ruins of Pompeii is evidence of the power of Vesuvius. The lightness of weight is caused by volcanic gasses. Pumice is the only rock on earth that floats. In order to prepare for future disasters you have to learn from the past. Geologists are leading the way to discover ways to help save future lives. They reexamine the facts and geological clues that Vesuvius leaves them on regular bases. There is evidence of the volcano producing dense lava flows capable of obliterating everything in its path. The pyroclastic flow is probably its most dangerous weapon as they can generate heat up to nine hundred degrees. The pattern of the behavior of Vesuvius seems to be a period of quiet, then large explosion followed by the same. So, the danger seems to be the longer the volcano stays quiet, the greater the chance for its magma to generate. The hope is that the lessons learned from Vesuvius will one day help people from around the