Volcano's Effects

Lava Flows These are streams of lava that come out of the volcano. Move slowly: People can get out of their way Trees/homes/buildings all will burn if they are caught in the flow’s path.

Volcanic Ash Ash spews from the volcano. This material can land on roofs, causing them to burn or collapse. Ash is very heavy; it contains small pieces of rock. Ash makes roads slippery, and can even bring down a modern airplane.

Mudflows Occur when loose rocks and soil mix with water When volcanoes erupt, ice and snow on the volcano will melt and release large amounts of water. Water mixes with loose rocks/soil Mudflows can burry towns miles away from the volcano.

Pyroclastic Flows These super hot gas clouds rush downhill and knock down and burn everything in their path. The flow will leave a thick layer of volcanic rock fragment

Landslides The rapid movement of rock and soil downhill A volcano’s side can collapse and start a landslide. Caused by: Magma moving underground Earthquakes Heavy rainfall

Air Quality Volcanoes stink! They release hydrogen sulfide Smells like rotten eggs They release Carbon dioxide Deadly gas with no smell Gases mix with water in the air, which causes acid rain. Ash gets into the air: Mount St. Helens released so much ash that it blocked all the sunlight for days in the state of Washington. Some volcanoes release so much ash that the world will cool 1- 2 degrees.

Positive Effects? Lava flows cool and harden. Over time, the rock breaks down and it forms into rich soil. Many highly productive farmlands are near volcanoes. Great landscape of mountains and valleys: People want to live near volcanoes. People want to tour volcanoes.

How does an eruption happen? Magma is made of silicon and oxygen. Magma is also made up of gases. 1.) Gases in the magma begin to expand 2.) Gases have no where to escape 3.) Pressure builds up 4.) Gases blow up and out of the volcano

Lava Lava is magma that reaches Earth’s surface. As magma makes its way up the volcano, it gets trapped in magma chambers. When a chamber can no longer hold the magma, the chamber blows up, magma escapes, reaches Earth’s surface, and is then lava.

Ash Pieces of volcanic rock fragments that are smaller than 2mm in diameter Get carried long distances by the wind

Blocks Large heavy pieces of volcanic rock Some as big as houses They are shot out and fall quickly back to Earth

Pyroclastic flow A cloud of superhot gases and rock fragments These flows race downhill They reach temperatures of 1500 degrees Fahrenheit Travel at 100 mph Most dangerous part of an eruption

Scientists Monitor Volcanoes Many volcanoes can lay dormant for years, and then once again erupt. Before eruptions, there are some warning signs: Small earthquakes Steam coming from the volcano Changes to the ground Streams around the volcano get warmer