Lava Flow
What is Lava Flow?
Lava flow is an outpouring of hot, molten rock (magma) onto the surface of a
volcano.
Lava from a stratovolcano such as Mount Rainier is typically thick
and slow moving. People and animals can generally escape a lava flow
unharmed; however, lava will burn or bury everything in its path - trees,
homes, roads, etc. (Hoblitt and others, 1995:4).
Lava flow at Mount Rainier?
Geologic studies
indicate that historically lava flow
extends only as far as the valley immediately surrounding Rainier.
Because of the slow moving characteristic of lava, people in Mount Rainier
National Park should be able to be safely evacuated in the event of an
eruption (Hoblitt and others, 1995:4). The above hazard map shows the
areas that are most likely to be
effected by lava flow from an eruption at Mount Rainier, most of which are
within the park boundaries.
The real danger to people and property from lava is the potential it has of
heating the glaciers on Rainier. As shown in a later section, the melting
of glaciers could lead to dangerous floods and
lahars.
According to the 1994 U.S. Geodynamics report to the National Research
Council (33), lava flow from
the summit of Mount Rainier is the most likely volcanic event to occur.
In fact, all of Rainier's summit is composed of old lava from eruptions
approximately 2,200 - 2,300 years ago (Sisson, 1998).
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Continue with Pyroclastic Flow