Chapter 10.3

Materials erupted from volcanoes, as well as heat from molten rock underground, affect Earth’s surface Land lava volcanic ash landslides mudflows pyroclastic flows Air poisonous gases adds to acid rain haze lower temperatures Water hot springs geysers fumaroles deep-sea vents

Lava Flows  Lava is molten rock that reaches a planet’s surface through a volcano.  Slow-moving lava flow will knock down, cover, or burn nearly everything in its path.

Volcanic Ash  Volcanic ash is heavy because it is made of tiny pieces of rock.  Ash makes roads slippery, and it clogs up machinery, including airplanes and cars.  Large amounts can suffocate plants, animals and people.

Mudflows  These are landslides that occur when loose rocks and soil are mixed with water.  Heat from an eruption melts any ice and snow on the volcano very quickly.  Fast-moving mudflows have buried entire towns many kilometers from an eruption

Pyroclastic Flows  A dense cloud of superheated gases and rock fragments that moves quickly downhill from an erupting volcano.

Landslides  Part of a volcano can collapse and start a landslide.  Landslide is a rapid downhill movement of rock and soil.  A landslide can cause a tsunami if a large amount of material falls into the ocean.

Steam Explosions  These are rare but can be very destructive  They occur when magma comes near water

Volcanic gases and ash affect the air  Gases are released into the air from magma.  Some gases contain the element sulfur.  Hydrogen sulfide gas smells like rotten eggs  Carbon dioxide maybe released and can be fatal Iceland Volcanic Eruption

Acid Rain  Rain that contains large amounts of acid  Volcanoes are sources of acid- forming gases

Volcanic activity affects water  Hot springs  Geysers  Fumaroles

Hot springs  These are in areas where magma or hot rock is near Earth’s surface.  Most hot springs, the water flows out into a calm pool.

Geysers  A types of hot spring where water shoots into the air.  Geyser forms where water collects in an underground chamber, then erupts through a narrow channel. Fly Geyser in Nevada

Fumaroles  Similar to a hot spring but instead of releasing liquid water, it releases steam and other gases

Deep sea vents  These are hot springs that form at spreading centers in the ocean.  The hot water coming out is rich with dissolved minerals and gases from the rock and magma.  Deep sea vents support unusual life forms such as blind crabs and tubeworms that measure up to 3 meters.