Pompeii: Would you Survive?
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A Closer Look: Pompeii
VOLCANOES
The ancient city of Pompeii was a great place to live in ancient times. The climate was pleasant,
the view of Mt. Vesuvius was stunning, and crops grew well in the rich, volcanic soil. But the good life
came to an end on August 24, AD 79. That's when Mt. Vesuvius exploded, showering Pompeii's residents
with chunks of rock, great heaps of ash and clouds of deadly gas. When the explosion ended, Pompeii
was buried, and thousands of Pompeiians were left dead.
DEADLY MOUNTAIN
The explosion that buried Pompeii was one of the most intense ever known. Volcanoes are
formed when magma (liquid rock) from chambers deep under the ground forces its way out of the
earth's surface. Some volcanoes are relatively gentle, like those in Hawaii, which allow thin streams of
lava to flow, forming slowly layered shield volcanoes.
Not Mt. Vesuvius. Over the years, a hard crust had formed over the mouth of the volcano,
keeping gases in the magma from being released into the air. This allowed pressure to build up in the
magma chamber, or the tube going through the mountain to the opening above. So when the magma
finally forced its way up to the top of the chamber, the pressure was intense.
When Pompeii exploded, a huge column of gas and pyroclastics (volcanic debris) rose more than
2 miles above the volcano. Soon, a steady shower of rocks, gas, and ash landed in nearby Pompeii. Some
people tried to flee Pompeil but thousands perished. Many were killed by the clouds of poison gas. All of
those killed were buried under the ash for more than 1,600 years.
But their devastating loss turned out to be history's gain. In 1748, Pompeii began to be dug up.
In I860, systematic excavations began. What archaeologists have learned from studying Pompeii has
taught us about its citizens' agonizing deaths, but has also given us a richness of detail about their lives.
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Pompeii: Would you Survive?
The volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD caught most of the Roman population off guard.
"Would you have made it?
Warning signs
1. What would have been your first sign that an eruption was imminent (going to happen)?
A. At of the animals were fleeing the area.
B. Earthquakes throughout the region signaled the volcano was becoming active.
C. The sky darkened and the smell of sulfur was strong.
2. If you, like other Romans of the time, had known about the history of Mount Vesuvius, would the
information have helped you survive?
A. No, there were no previous eruptions.
B. Yes. You would have known about two earlier catastrophic eruptions that wiped out entire
populations.
C. No, previous eruptions were so different and insignificant that the information would have
been meaningless.
3. Mount Vesuvius had been dormant for eons before the eruption of 79AD. Did this make its eruption
more or less dangerous?
A. More dangerous. A long interval. combined with mounting seismic activity, is a sure sign
of impending disaster.
B. Less dangerous. More time actually allows the seismic pressure to disseminate causing the
volcano to lapse into dormancy.
C. Neither. Lapsed time has no effect on a volcanic eruption's intensity.
Winds of Chance
4. On the day of the eruption, the wind blew inland from the southeast across the bay of Naples. Had
the winds been from the north out to sea, as was usual, would you have experienced less devastation?
A. No, the winds make little difference in volcanic eruptions.
B. No, the force of the eruption was so severe nothing was going to curt-ail its destructive force.
C. Yes. the wind would have blown the volcano's debris column out over the bay, where it would
have done less damage.
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Pompeii: Would you Survive?
5. The volcano erupts, blasting a column of boiling rock and gas into the air. Soon, a light hail of
pebbles begins to fall. What is this? And should it cause immediate concern?
A. No. this is merely the first thrust of the volcano; the real danger is the hot pyroclastic flows
to follow.
B. Yes these are known as "fire rocks" and can cause severe burns.
C. Yes, these light pumice stones are mixed with much deadlier heavier volcanic rock.
6. What is this heavier rock mixed in with the lighter pumice stones? And why is it so dangerous?
A. Limestone: although ifs heavier, the real danger ties in it’s superheated, gelatinous mass.
B. Lithics: Cold, dense rock fragments torn from the interior of the volcano
C. Blastophites: Dense, loosely packed volcanic matter that explodes on contact like a fiery dirt
cloud.
Pliny's Legacy
7. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius was far more deadly than most volcanic eruptions. Why?
A. Magma and superheated gas and ash formed a gigantic column in the atmosphere.
B. Fiery molten lava was splattered over such a large area.
C. Severe earthquakes accompany the eruption, causing just as much damage.
8. Why ARE eruptions like that of Mount Vesuvius called Plinian eruptions?
A. They are named for the composition of the magma ejected from the volcano.
B. They are named for the shape of a pine tree, which the plume cloud resembles.
C. They are named for the first person to record the phenomena.
9. In order to survive the eruption, where is the safest place to avoid the volcano's tephra?
A. In the water, where it becomes harmless.
B. Under a well-fortified overhanging or cover.
C. On high ground, where it is unlikely to reach you.
stratovolcano (composite
volcano): Cone constructed by
alternating layers of lava and
pyroclastic material.
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Pompeii: Would you Survive?
Can You Run to Safety?
10. You are still in Pompeii and the pumice stones ore falling heavily now. What is course of action?
A. Stay where you are and wait for help.
B. Find the lowest, most fortified space and cover yourself with blankets.
C. Evacuate quickly and carefully as you need to get as far from the volcano as possible.
11. If you decide to make a run for it, what is the most important thing you should take with you?
A. Money, as you will need to purchase supplies.
B. Water, because uncontaminated water will become scarce.
C. All of your treasured possessions, as everything left behind will be destroyed.
12. If you are fleeing from the base of Mount Vesuvius, in which direction should you go?
A. Head north into the country, where it is less congested.
B. Head south to the ocean and wait for rescue.
C. Head west towards Naples, where they are better prepared for the emergency.
Pyroclastic Problems
13. You would have little chance of surviving if you encounter a pyroclastic flow. Why?
A. It is a deadly ground-hugging avalanche of hot ash. pumice, rock fragments and volcanic
gas.
B. I+'s a sudden, killer molten lava "river" that runs down the side of an active volcano.
C. It's a sudden chasm that opens up under your feet in the midst of an eruption or
earthquake.
14. The first pyroclastic surge has incinerated many coastal towns. The second narrowly misses
Pompeii. But if you didn't flee, this surge could still kill you, How?"
A. The intense heat is so sudden, it catches you unaware.
B. The surge is preceded by such a strong blast wave, it levels everything nearby.
C. The surge carries a cloud of toxic gas.
Pyroclastic flows: Materials formed when
magma and rock are shattered by
volcanic explosions. They are made up of
hot gas, trapped air, and pieces of broken
up magma and old volcanic rock and they
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travel quickly-from 60 to 100 mph.
Pompeii: Would you Survive?
15. The lethal combination of gases emitted from the eruption of Vesuvius was most likely a mix of?
A. Methane and carbon dioxide
B. Carbon dioxide and hydrogen chloride
C. Sulfur and hydrogen chloride
What NOW?
16. If you have survived the pumices hail, the first two superheated pyroclastic flows and the toxic gas
cloud, are you FINALLY safe?
A. Yes. the volcano's eruption in nearly over.
B. No, but if you make a run for it now, you can likely escape the volcano's final wrath.
C. No, a third and final pyroclastic flow is the strongest and will bury Pompeii.
17. After 18 hours of constant eruption, the volcano is nearly spent. The force of its upward thrust
weakens. Is this the merciful end to the danger?
A. Yes. Once the eruption loses steam, the column of ash and gas will dissipate.
B. No. The end to the upward thrust simply means that ash cloud's tephra will begin to fall
back to earth.
C. Yes. With the end of the eruption and its destruction force weakening, the ash cloud will
blow harmlessly out to sea.
18. Much has been made of the Vesuvius eruption because of the Pliny the younger account and
spectacular archaeological finds. But was it truly cataclysmic in terms of lives and properly lost?
A. Yes. Thousands were killed, and Pompeii, Herculaneum. and Stabiae were wiped from the
earth.
B. No. Though lives were lost, the death toll was relatively minor.
C. No. The area was lightly populated at the time. However, many glorious homes of wealthy
Romans were destroyed
.
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Pompeii: Would you Survive?
Life and Death in Pompeii
A historian named Pliny the Elder witnessed the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. He
died during the eruption, but his nephew Pliny the Younger later wrote a letter explaining
his uncle's experience.
An Eyewitness Account
by Pliny the Younger
On the 24th of August, about one in the afternoon, [Pliny the elder saw). . . A cloud, from
which mountain was uncertain at this distance, was ascending, the form of which I cannot
give you a more exact description of than by likening it to that of a pine tree, for it shot up to
a great height in the form of a very tail trunk, which spread itself out at the top into a sort of
branches . . . [curious, Pliny] ordered a light vessel to be got ready, (so) ... he ordered the
galleys to put to sea,... Hastening then to the place from whence others fled with the utmost
terror, he steered his course direct to the point of danger ... He was now so close to the
mountain that the cinders, which grew thicker and hotter the nearer he approached, fell
into the ships, together with pumice stones, and black pieces of burning rock; they were in
danger too not only of being aground by the sudden retreat of the sea, but also from the vast
fragments which rolled down from the mountain, and obstructed all the shore. (He went to
visit friend at Stabiae, not too far from the volcano. He ate with his friends and went to bed,
but in the middle of the night...) The court which led to his apartment being now almost
filled with ashes and stones, if he had continued there any time longer, it would have been
impossible for him to have made his way out. So he was awoke and got up, and went to ...
the rest of his company, who were feeling too anxious to think of going to bed. They
consulted together whether it would be most prudent to trust to the houses, which now
rocked from side to side ... or fly to the open fields, where the calcined stones and cinders,
though light indeed, yet fell in large showers and threatened destruction. In this choice of
dangers they resolved for the fields . . . They went out then, having pillows tied upon their
heads with napkins; and this was their whole defense against the storm of stones that fell
round them.
(Later) It was now day everywhere else, but there a deeper darkness prevailed than in the
thickest night… They thought proper to go farther down upon the shore to see If they might
safely put out to sea, but found the waves still running extremely high, and boisterous.
There my uncle, laying himself down upon a sail cloth ... fell down dead; suffocated, as I
conjecture, by some gross and noxious vapor…
Reference: Bullard. F. M., 1968. Volcanoes. Austin. University of Texas Press.
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