New research: Pompeii turned to ashes in just 15 minutes

According to a new survey that saw the light of day a few days ago, it took just 15 minutes to destroy the entire city. Pompeii from the volcano of Vesuvius on August 24, 79 AD As reported by Guardian the approximately 2,000 people who lost their lives did not die from the volcanic lava but died from suffocation.

So the research was conducted by researchers at the University of Bari, in collaboration with the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) and the British Geological Survey of Edinburgh
showed that the pyroclastic flow – a dense, rapid stream of solidified pieces of lava, volcanic ash and hot gases – surrounded Pompeii in just minutes from the time of the eruption.

Roberto Isaiah, an experienced researcher at the Vesuvius Observatory at INGV, told the Guardian that the deadly cloud that spread over the city had a temperature of “over 100 degrees and consisted of carbon dioxide, flora, incandescent particles” .

Roberto Isaiah added that “the aim of our work was to develop a model that will help us understand and quantify the effects of pyroclastic flows in a residential area of ​​Pompeii, about 10 km from Mount Vesuvius.”

The new study showed that the inhabitants of Pompeii had no way out of the area. In fact, many of them they lost their lives in their homes, on the streets and in the squares. According to Isaiah’s research model, within ten to twenty minutes the gases, ashes and volcanic material had flooded every length and breadth of the city.

INGV research has described pyroclastic flows as “the most devastating effect” of volcanic eruptions. “They are reminiscent of avalanches and are caused by the collapse of the explosive column. “The volcanic ash that is created can run along the slopes of the volcano at speeds of hundreds of kilometers per hour, at high temperatures and with a high concentration of particles”, it is claimed, among other things.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBGzWG-j9mk

“The deadly cloud had a temperature of more than 100 degrees Celsius and consisted of carbon dioxide, incandescent ash, volcanic glass and other materials. Our goal was to design a simulation that shows the effects of the pyroclastic currents that formed after the explosion in the Pompeii region. Dozens of people may have died from the rockslide, but most died from suffocation. These 15 minutes in the hellish cloud must have seemed endless to the inhabitants who must not have understood exactly what was happening. The people of Pompeii had learned to live with earthquakes, but not with explosions. “So they were surprised and swallowed by the volcanic cloud,” says Isaiah.

“It is very important to be able to piece together the events of Vesuvius’ past eruptions so that we can trace the characteristics of the eruptions and their effects on the population,” University of Bari professor Pierfrancesco told the Guardian. Delino.

“The scientific approach we took in this study reveals information hidden in the pyroclastic deposits and clarifies new aspects of the Pompeii eruption. “It also offers valuable insights into the interpretation of Vesuvius’ behavior, including for purposes of civil protection.”

Today the ruins of Pompeii are the second most popular archeological site in Italy while in the first place is the Colosseum in Rome.

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