Can standing near a lava flow hurt?

Question

Is it possible to stand near lava and not get hurt? Not touching it or anything, just standing next to a lava flow. Would the air be hot enough to hurt you? Or any other factor I'm forgetting.

Remember, for the sake of the question, you never touch the lava.

One, I said you don't touch it, so that means no splashes. Two, I didn't FORGET the gases, I didn't KNOW. I'm not a vulcanologist or whatever he said. That's why I asked.

For the curious, it's for a story I'm writing. I needed a quick answer for a rough draft...

Answer 1

Yes, under some circumstances you can stand right next to the lava--- I've done it! It is VERY hot, for sure, and the soles of your shoes melt from the hot newly hardened rock. It is NOT recommended that people do it, for so many obvious reasons, not the least of which is the fact that, unknown to you, the lava sometimes flows underground and only the top is hardened--- and like an ice crust on snow, you can break through to the underground river of magma. Unlike snow, however, you'd be almost instantly incinerated and, of course, killed.
But here on the Big Island, the lava usually flows in incredibly beautiful and powerful molten streams--- We stood next to it and even dipped sticks into it and brought out globs which then almost immediately hardened.
There are seldom gasses toxic enough to kill you with this type of flow--- especially if you stand upwind from the lava, although if you are standing next to the ocean where the gases combine with the water it can form sulfuric acid, which can certainly be deadly.
Despite the dangers, I'd call it one of the peak experiences in my life. The power and beauty is magnificent.

Answer 2

Yes you can stand near a lava flow and not be hurt. You certainly need to be aware of the heat, and potential for splashing, but that all depends on your definition of 'near'. The gases tend to be most pronounced nearest the vent. If you are well downstream of it, most of the gases will already have been released.
Again, if you are well downstream, splashing isn't a real factor. Everyone is again thinking of being at the vent. Generally, once lava exits, and encounters air, it will skin over. Still be flowing, but will have a flexible skin of solidifying material. That is Hawaiian lava. Alaskan lava tends to be blockier, oozes from the vent, and tumbles down the mountainside in blocks. This of course, would be a little more unpredictable to hang around, but infinitely more exciting.

Answer 3

Think of standing near an open barbeque pit, with a raging fire going. Or standing near a blast furnace when it's in full oepration. You can get within a certain distance and you will feel heat - extreme heat, depending on how close you get -- but you won't get hurt. If you go within the critical zone, yes, you could get fatal burns etc.But unless you are in the crater, you won't be overcome by gases as they are dispersed in the outside air. You will feel the rumble of the lava under your feet (this can be felt quite a distance away from the lava flow. It's like feeling thunder under the ground) and you can hear the hiss of the steam as the hot lava touches cooler objects in its path. It's especially awesome at night as it casts a reddish (almost fiendish) glow, that looks like the lights of Hell.

Answer 4

How near you can get depends on how hot the lava is. If it is glowing red, being near that is like being under a broiler - you could be severely burned, your clothes burst into flames, etc. Vulcanologists wear protective clothing - a reflective layer to fend of the radiant heat plus insulation to protect them from the hot air and ground. You might also want a respirator to protect you from air too hot or poisonous to breathe. Pretty much the same stuff firefighters wear to go into burning buildings.

Answer 5

The answer is depends.
Depends on the type of lava Hawaiian basalts or andesitic lavas. It also depends on how far away from the vent zone you are. In the case of Hawaii if you are close to the vent, it is too hot (the air is very hot around it) and the gases are dangerous, so it is dangerous. But if you are far away, when the lava has a thickness of about one foot, the lava has cooled enough, it is very viscous, is moving very slowly and has degassed considerably, then you can walk on it if you dare to try it on your own risk (I have seen it in documentaries). I don't recommend you to try this, I am just saying it is possible.
It is actually more dangerous to walk on the solidified crust, I heard that one volcanologist walking on the crust, it cracked open allowing his feet under the lava is boot exploded, but just minor burn. So, it is dangerous more dangerous, you don't know how stable the crust is.

Answer 6

Basically Put It In VERY Slowly And And When You Feel Pain Leave It In And Dont Move Try Relax So Your Vagina Will Adjust Too His Penis Size This Should Help And Use A **** Ton Off Lube After The Penis Gets Far Enough In It Wont Hurt:') Goodluck And Remember Too Relax And Stay Calm

Answer 7

You feel heat but you wont get hurt if your standing from the lava with some distance like a meter or so because lava cools quite fast that you can stand on them with protective covering in your feet (unless another lava flow overlaps)
You feel heat but I don't think you can get burn if you are just standing with the lava just flowing.

Answer 8

Well if your standing near a lava flow it is most likely that there will be lava surrounding you. And yes, the heat will be hot enough to hurt you eve if your not touching it. Lava is about 1,000 degrees Celsius.

Answer 9

yes it can because of the gases, and the heat from the lava (you dont have to actually touch it to feel hot) would be intense.

but why would you want to stand near lava? like the other people said, it might splash and burn you unless you have a protective suit on. but interesting question tho

Answer 10

Better be upwind. The air is hot and dry. You'll know where too close to the radiant energy is by that burning feeling on any exposed skin. If you're downwind, you also get the sulfuric acid gas. Not pleasant. Also, I'm not going to recommend standing near the flow, because it can undercut where you're standing.