noun
- A rapidly flowing mixture of rock debris and water that rushes down the slopes of a volcano, typically triggered by heavy rain, melting snow, or an eruption.
Usage: Plural of lahar; Geology/volcanology term; Often used in scientific and disaster-management contexts
Examples
- The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens generated lahars that traveled at speeds exceeding 90 miles per hour.
- Lahars pose a significant hazard to communities living near active volcanoes.
- Scientists monitor volcanic regions for lahars during heavy rainfall events.
- The lahars from the eruption buried entire valleys under layers of mud and rock.
- Residents in lahar-prone areas are trained to evacuate quickly when warnings are issued.