Re: Are the suits that volcanologist wear heavy?

Most geologists just wear regu lar cotton or wool clothing with long sleeves and pant legs, along with heavy boots, and use a hat and gloves to protect themselves from the radiant heat of lava. Sometimes you also have to wear a gas mask to protect yourself from the poisonous fumes. You might also wear fire retardant material, called Nome x, which is also worn by race-car drivers and pilots You are probably thinking of the "silver suits" sometimes seen on TV, or the shoulder/head helmets that Steve and Katja Krafft would sometimes wear when they got near an erupting vent. The suits aren't really special for volcanology, they are designed for fighting fires. It is an aluminized cloth, and the hood has a gold-plated faceplate. But since it is really good at keeping heat out, it is also good at keeping heat in, and it gets really sticky inside! Here are some photos: 1, 2 Note that none of these will protect you if you actually touched or stepped into lava because it is over 2000 deg F -- that would be a fiery end to you! Getting near a volcano is DANGEROUS -- several people die every year because they get too close, and they get caught in an eruption. DO NOT GO NEAR a volcanic vent -- even professionals like the Kraffts get caught, and they paid dearly for their curiosity. A really good site for information on Volcanos is Volcano World