Anatomy of an Eruption How Volcanoes Work Justin Cross, Sean McMullen How did Vesuvius blow up in 79 A.D.? Justin Cross, Sean McMullen

Cinder Cone Volcanoes Built from lava ejected form a single vent that falls back onto the mountain forming a circular or oval cone. Rarely rise above 1,000 feet above the ground. Famous Cinder Cone Volcanoes – Paricutin in Mexico and Crater Lake in Oregon

Crater Lake

Composite Cone Volcanoes Also known as strato-volcanoes Tall, symmetrically shaped mountains Steep sides rising at times 10,000+ft. Built with alternating layers of lava and pyroclastic flows. Famous Composite Cone Volcanoes – Mt. Etna in Italy, Mt. St. Helens in Washington, and Mount Vesuvius in Italy.

Mt. Etna

Shield Volcanoes Tall and broad with flat and rounded shapes. Built by steady flow of pahoehoe lava oozing out great distances. Relatively safe to be around during eruptions. Famous Shield Volcanoes – Mauna Loa in Hawaii and Olympus Mons on Mars

Olympus Mons

Mount Vesuvius On August 24, 79 A.D. a violent quake shook the countryside at the foot of the mountain. There followed an ear-splitting clap of thunder. The summit of Vesuvius split open and began billowing ash. It began showering stones and fragments of pumice. Finally a tomb-like darkness fell by a blizzard of white ash.

Mount Vesuvius Herculaneum, nine miles up the shore to the northwest, was subject to a more monstrous phenomenon: A river of mud composed of bits white, gray, and green pumice began to engulf the town.

Pliny the Younger “Ashes were already falling hotter and thicker, followed by bits of pumice and blackened stones, charred and cracked by the flames, and the shore was blocked by debris from the mountain.” “The buildings were shaking as if they were being torn form their foundations.” “My uncle decided to go down to the shore and investigate on the spot the possibility of any escaped by sea, but he found the waves still wild and dangerous.”

Pliny the Younger “Then the flames and smell of sulfur which gave warning of the approaching fire drove the others to take flight and roused him to stand up.” “The buildings were tottering” and where “we saw the sea sucked away, and apparently forced back by the earthquake.” “A dense black cloud was coming up behind us, spreading over the earth like a flood.”

Pliny the Younger “…the belief that the whole world was dying and I with it” until a yellowish sun finally revealed a landscape “buried deep in ashes like snowdrifts.”

The thunderous eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A. D The thunderous eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. drives residents from the seaside resort of Pompeii in this painting by 19th century artist John Martin. Centurions in the foreground use their shields to ward off the shower of hot ash and pumice; behind them, city walls crumble as earthquakes associated with the eruption rip through the area.

The Aftermath Both Vesuvius and the virtually surrounding countryside were unrecognizable. Herculaneum was buried under 45 to 65 feet of pumice laden mud which was to harden, gradually, into stone. Pompeii lay under 20 feet of ash. There is no accurate count of how many people lost their lives: The Romans took no census of the citizens.

Works Cited Gill, N S. "Mount Vesuvius." About.Com. 17 Apr. 2007 <http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/pompeii/p/MtVesuvius.htm>. This source gives additional information on the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. "Mount Vesuvius." Wikipedia. 11 Apr. 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesuvius>. I will use this Wikipedia for more information on Mt. Vesuvius and info on Mt. Vesuvius today. Tarbuck, Edward J., and Frederick K. Lutgens. Earth Science. Needham, Massachusetts: Prentice Hall, 2006. 278-295. I will use this source to show all three kinds of volcanoes work and what kind of volcano Mt. Vesuvius is. Time-Life Books, ed. Planet Earth Volcanoes. Alexandrea, Virginia: Time-Life Books, 1982. 98-110. I will use this source to show how Mt. Vesuvius Erupted. "Vesuvius, Italy." 10 Apr. 2007 <http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/volc_images/img_vesuvius.html>. I will use this source to gain more info on Mt. Vesuvius http://images.google.com/imghp?svnum=30&hl=en&gbv=2&btnG=Search+Images