You are in charge of emergency planning in Electron, Washington, when it is brought to your attention that the entire town is built upon the remains of eruption materials from Mount Rainier, which is less than 30 miles away. Using the past volcanic hazard history of Mount Rainier, which volcanic hazard would most likely affect your town?

a. volcanic landslides

b. lahar

c. lava flow

d. earthquakes

Option (B)

Explanation:

Lahar is usually defined as a mudflow comprised of volcanic materials mixed with water. It transports volcanic rock fragments of size ranging from smaller ashes to big boulders, and extends to a large distance, up to several miles, as it flows down along the slope of a stratovolcano.

Lahars can be generated with or without the eruption of a volcano.

During a volcanic eruption, lahars can be generated by the melting of the snow and ice particles. It can also be produced by ejecting water from a crater type of lake. In addition to this, lahars are also produced by the Pyroclastic flows which are extremely hot and as it flows down along the steeper slope, it melts the snow and ice.

This can cause great damages to an area, and also kills many people. In the given condition, the occurrence of lahar has affected the town of Electron in Washington.

Thus, the correct answer is option (B).