Dangerous Ash EMS geoscientist Barry Voight led a team of researchers to the island of Montserrat in the Caribbean to study the Soufriere Hills volcano. They were in place with earthquake monitoring equipment when the volcano erupted and have used the data they collected to predict subsequent eruptions. These improved prediction techniques should help provide warnings of future eruptions of active volcanoes around the world. The Montserrat volcano in 1997 generated an ash hurricane of super-heated gases that devasted areas of the flanks of the volcano and claimed 19 lives. Similar deadly ash storms claimed the Roman city of Pompeii in A.D. 79 and the city of St. Pierre on the Caribbean island of Martinique a century ago.
Silicosis is another, more long term, threat from volcanic ash.
Tiny ash particles of cristobalite can clog the lungs and over a period of years rob the person or animal of the ability take oxygen into the blood. Soufriere Hills eruption, Montserrat Click the image for a larger version. Soufriere Hills eruption, Montserrat Click the image for a larger version. Soufriere Hills eruption, Montserrat Click the image for a larger version. Soufriere Hills eruption, Montserrat Click the image for a larger version.