Pompeii

In a Plinian eruption, volcanic ash and pumice initially rain on surrounding areas. At Pompeii, scientists can distinguish the various layers of debris.

White and gray pumice layers, found at the bottom of the excavations, confirm this type of debris fell first. Pompeii was not destroyed because of pumice debris, however. In fact, human remains found above the ash and pumice layers indicate people came back to their homes after the ashfall stopped. Without the knowledge they needed to survive, people placed themselves and their children into death’s path.

Annihilation occurred hours later, when Vesuvius spewed out pyroclastic surges and pyroclastic flows.  The USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) describes why pyroclastic events are so damaging:

A pyroclastic flow is a ground-hugging avalanche of hot ash, pumice, rock fragments, and volcanic gas that rushes down the side of a volcano as fast as 100 km/hour or more. The temperature within a pyroclastic flow may be greater than 500° C, sufficient to burn and carbonize wood. Once deposited, the ash, pumice, and rock fragments may deform (flatten) and weld together because of the intense heat and the weight of the overlying material.

A surge can turn pristine lakes and forests - like Lake Spirit at the foot of Mt. St. Helens - into a kind of moonscape. A pyroclastic flow can bury surrounding areas - like the Marella River Valley near Mt. Pinatubo - to depths of 50-200 meters.

A pyroclastic flow first moves into canyons and river beds. At the bottom of the volcano, it can sweep away (or bury) anything in its path, including populated areas. That’s what happened to Pompeii.

Nothing standing in its way will survive.