How do you go into a volcano when it is hot? Do you wear special clothes?

Michael Wong

Hi Michael,

Well, volcanologists don't usually go "in" a volcano when it is erupting. They may get close to a vent on the flank of the volcano or they may get close to a lava flow that is flowing down the side. Either way, they will need to wear protective clothing to keep from getting burned. Just the radiant heat from a big lava flow is enough to burn you badly--you don't even have to touch it. Many times geologists will wear those big reflective silver suits that firefighters also wear. These won't protect you if you actually touch the lava but they will protect you from the radiant heat. Radiant heat is heat that you feel from a distance. For example, if your oven is on and you open the door, you feel heat even if you don't reach in and touch the hot coils.

Geologists sometimes only need to be close to a lava flow or vent for a short time to collect a lava or gas sample. In these cases they may decide that they can do without the big silver suit (which is clumsy, stuffy, and hard to see out of), and just wear long sleeves or perhaps a nomex flight suit. Since the volcanologist has probably gotten out to the eruption site in a helicopter anyway, he or she is probably already wearing a flight suit, and it may be enough protection for a quick dash in to get a sample.

We have a few photos of geologists wearing various types of protective clothing in VolcanoWorld. The place to go to get started is:

here and here

Sincerely,

Scott Rowland

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