Agents of Change

The materials coming from the volcano change the landscape, sometimes rapidly, sometimes slowly. There are many types of flow, the one most talked about was the pyroclastic flows but lahars (flows mixtures of loose volcanic material and water) and surges (the violent and fast-moving part of the hot volcanic flows) also changed the landscape.

Pyroclastic flows burn vegetation, erode and destroy buildings and infrastructure as well as being a direct threat to life. This is the edge of some of the highly destructive flows on 25 June 1997. Credit: Paul Cole. Date: 25/6/1997

Lahars (Mudflows) cause rapid landscape change, particularly in the Belham Valley and around Plymouth. This is a lahar in the Belham Valley in May 2004. Credit: MVO Archive

A lahar in the Belham Valley in November 2004. The vehicle was eventually swept away. Credit: MVO Archive.

5. Volcano island

May 2006 Dome Collapse And Lahars

2000 +

The Volcano & Belham

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5. Volcano island

Galway’s Wall Crisis And Collapse (1996 – 1997)

1996

1997

The Volcano & Belham

West (Plymouth)

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2. Moving, Crossing and Leaving

South Gone

1996

1997

West (Plymouth)

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1. Watching the Volcano

Everybody Monitors The Volcano

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000 +

The Island Today

The Volcano & Belham

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1. Watching the Volcano

Lahars

1997

1998

1999

2000 +

The Volcano & Belham

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1. Watching the Volcano

Pyroclastic Flows

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000 +

East

West (Plymouth)

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1. Watching the Volcano

Surface Activity View >

6. Before and after

Belham Valley

1995

2000 +

The Island Today

The Volcano & Belham

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