Lava is molten rock that has erupted from the Earth’s interior onto its surface. This superheated material, expelled from volcanoes, forms when magma rises and is released from within the planet. Understanding the characteristics of lava and its interaction with organic matter reveals the extreme dangers associated with this natural phenomenon.
Lava’s Extreme Properties
Lava exhibits incredibly high temperatures, typically ranging from about 700°C to 1,200°C (1,300°F to 2,200°F). Some specific types of lava can even reach temperatures as low as 650°C or as high as 1,600°C.
The viscosity of lava, or its resistance to flow, varies significantly depending on its chemical composition, particularly its silica content. Some lavas, like basaltic lava, can be relatively fluid, similar to ketchup, while others are thick and sluggish, resembling peanut butter or honey. Despite its varying fluidity, lava is substantially more viscous than water, ranging from approximately 10,000 to 1,100,000 times thicker.
Lava is also remarkably dense, weighing about 2.6 to 3.1 times more than water. This high density means it is significantly heavier per unit volume compared to many other liquids.
Direct Physical Consequences
Contact with lava results in immediate and catastrophic physical consequences for a human body. The extreme heat causes instantaneous third-degree burns, destroying the epidermis, dermis, and damaging underlying tissues like fat, muscle, and bone. This rapid heating leads to the immediate coagulation of proteins and vaporization of water within the body’s cells.
The body’s water content would rapidly boil, causing steam to expand within tissues, potentially leading to a rapid, explosive reaction. Clothing and hair would instantly ignite due to the intense radiant heat even before direct physical contact. The searing heat would also damage airways, making breathing impossible and causing severe internal burns to the lungs if superheated air were inhaled. While death would be swift, it would involve excruciating pain and rapid tissue destruction, leaving little to no remains.
Dispelling Common Lava Myths
A common misconception is that a person would sink into lava as they would in water. This is incorrect; lava is significantly denser than the human body, causing a body to float on its surface.
The high viscosity of lava further contributes to this effect, making it difficult for an object to submerge easily. While a person might briefly make a small dent upon impact, the body would remain on the surface and quickly burst into flames due to the intense heat. Whether touching or falling into lava, the outcome remains equally fatal and immediate, driven by the extreme temperatures rather than submersion.