LAHARS

Debris flows are common in volcanic regions because of the following volcanic features:
  • Tephra is usually fairly loose unconsolidated material with low material strength

  • Composite volcanoes have high, ~steeply sloped topography

  • Abundant water is common around volcano summits because:

    • Summit craters may contain lakes

    • Geothermal heat rising from volcanoes melts snow caps at summits

    • Volcanic ash clouds often generate rainstorms

Photos of Lahars

 


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