When a volcano erupts, pyroclastic flows are often the biggest danger to anyone nearby. These fast-flowing currents of rock, ash and hot gas are extremely difficult to study, so researchers created their own. Read the related Nature Geoscience paper here: https://go.nature.com/2Im1bYs | Nature Portfolio

Pyroclastic flows from Unzen were generated by gravitational collapse of the growing lava dome, near the city of Shimabara, Nagasaki (1991). Most of the flows traveled from 1 to 3 km, but some flows reached more than 4 km, burning houses and killing people in the evacuated zone of Kita-kamikoba on the eastern foot of the volcano.The velocities of the flows ranged from 15 to 25 m/s on the gentle middle flank. Scientific paper: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00301514#page-1 Other detai

This 7x-speed footage captures a massive pyroclastic flow racing down Indonesia’s Mount Semeru as the volcano unleashed a powerful eruption. | AccuWeather

A pyroclastic flow, consisting of solidified lava pieces, volcanic ash, and hot gases, surged down Mount Etna in Sicily on Monday. The Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology released footage showing clouds of ash billowing from the volcano, filmed by a researcher during an expedition. (INGVvulcani via Storyful) | KTLA 5 News

Thermal imaging captured a pyroclastic flow from the Stromboli volcano reaching the sea on July 4, raising alert levels on Sicily. The footage, captured by INGV, prompted Italy’s civil protection agency to issue a red alert. 🌋 #stromboli #volcano #sicily #Italy #INGV #eruption | CGTNEurope