Stages of Vesuvius Erruption

Describe the first stage of the erruption

The first explosion sends a great cloud of ash,pumice and gases 20km into the air. Pliny the Younger said it resembled an 'Umbrella Pine"

Describe the Second stage of the Erruption

Pumice fallout over Pompeii begins ,the size ranges from pebbles called lappili to rock sized .The build up caused roofs to collapse. Fallout at Herculanum is less.

Describe the third stage of the erruption

The collapse of the collumn of hot gas and pumice causes a series of pyroclastic surges and flows of ash and hot gases.They raced south and west. The 1st surge covered Herculaneum in 3m of ash.

Describe the fourth stage of the erruption

A second surge deposits another 1.5 m of ash on Herculaneum

Describe what happened in the fourth stage of the erruption.

A third surge in the direction of Pompeii stops at the Herculaneum gate (The gate is in Pompeii actually)

Describe the 6th stage of the erruption.

Three more sucessive surges,reaching temperatures between 100 degrees and 400 degrees bury Pomepii to a depth of up to 4m.The final surge reaches Miseneum