How loud is a volcano?

How loud is a volcano?

The atmosphere was ringing like a bell, imperceptible to us but detectable by our instruments. The Krakatoa explosion registered 172 decibels at 100 miles from the source. This is so astonishingly loud, that it’s inching up against the limits of what we mean by “sound.”

Do volcanic eruptions have sound?

Loud explosions, bubbles bursting, rumbling, hissing, and roaring like a jet engine describe some of the sounds heard from volcanoes around the world. Stories of sounds from historical eruptions tell of loud booms and explosions from volcanoes heard thousands of kilometers away.

What is the farthest sound can travel?

Travelling at the speed of sound (766 miles or 1,233 kilometers per hour), it takes a noise about 4 hours to cover that distance. This is the most distant sound that has ever been heard in recorded history.

How far could Krakatoa be heard?

The pressure wave generated by the colossal third explosion radiated out from Krakatoa at 1,086 km/h (675 mph). The eruption is estimated to have reached 310 dB, loud enough to be heard 5,000 kilometres (3,100 mi) away.

What does a volcano smell like?

The gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is responsible for the rotten egg smell in the area. The yellow deposits on the rocks are sulfur crystals derived from the sulfurous gases.

Why can’t humans hear underwater?

Sound that’s generated underwater stays underwater; very little sound passes from water to air. When your head is out of the water and you listen to a sound made underwater, you don’t hear much. For starters, sound travels through water five times faster than it travels through air.

How close to a volcano can you observe volcanic activity?

Observing volcanic activity is still possible and rewarding. Typically you are more than a 1 km away from volcanic vents (with effusive or small to moderate explosive activity), but more than 5-10 km away from volcanoes producing moderate to strong explosive activity and you are outside valleys where pyroclastic flows could be channeled.

How many miles per hour does a volcano explode?

You could use this observation to calculate that stuff spewed out of the volcano at over 1,600 miles per hour—or nearly half a mile per second. That’s more than twice the speed of sound. This explosion created a deadly tsunami with waves over 100 feet (30 meters) in height.

How far away from a volcano is the high risk zone?

With small to medium eruptions, this zone extends often up to 1 km from the vents. With bigger eruptions producing heavy ash fall and pyroclastic flows, the High Risk Zone may well extend for several kilometers away from the volcano, especially if you are near valleys where such pyroclastic flows are channeled.

What should you do if you are in a volcanic eruption?

If you are outdoors Seek shelter indoors. If caught in a rockfall, roll into a ball to protect your head. If near a stream or river, be aware of rising water and possible mudflows in low-lying areas. Seek care for burns right away. If your eyes, nose, and throat become irritated from volcanic gases and fumes, move away from the area immediately.