What Is A Volcanic Eruption?

A volcanic eruption is one of the most dangerous and magnificent natural disasters. When a
volcano erupts, the volcano sends out ash clouds, lava and even volcanic bombs. There is a high
risk of danger from slow moving lava; though, the lava might move slowly, it is very dangerous and
can cause a lot of damage to property and human life.
A volcanic eruption occurs when hot materials from the Earth's interior are thrown out of
a volcano. Lava, rocks, dust, and gas compounds are some of these "ejecta". ...
Some eruptions are terrible explosions that throw out huge amounts of rock and volcanicash
and can kill many people. Some are quiet outflows of hot lava.

The Formation of Magma

Magma forms within the earth's upper mantle when two tectonic plates collide to create a subduction
zone. Lower pressure above the submerged plate and below the top plate causes the rocks in the
mantle to begin melting.
Magma is less dense than rocks, which means that it is also lighter. It follows the same rules as air:
hot air rises, and cold air falls. Because magma is hot, it rises through the Earth's crust, and because
rocks are cold and dense, they fall through the Earth's crust.

Before volcanoes erupt, the magma sloshes around in the upper mantle. Magma may cool and form
igneous rocks and crystals below the surface, but it may also move into magma chambers, which
are large pools of magma below the Earth's crust. When a volcano erupts, what emerges is magma
that continued to move up through the Earth's crust until it finally escaped.

When the pressure within the magma chamber is greater than the strength of the crust, it begins to
break through.
Magma rises to the Earth’s surface for a combination of reasons. Inside the magma chamber there
are a number of gases that are mixed with the magma. Just like a carbonated drink, the bubbles of
gas rise to the surface of the magma chamber, pushing against the Earth's crust.
Another reason an eruption can occur is simply an overload of magma in the magma chamber. Once
the chamber is filled to capacity, an eruption is sure to occur

The Magnitude of Volcanoes

When there is an earthquake, little vents are created in which magma is allowed to form. This is
pushed up through these vents and towards the crust of the volcano. Steam vents are created when
the magma reaches a certain level and reaches a boiling point which begins the eruption. The
eruption might result in a total eruption. This is when gas driven explosion send magma to the
volcano’s crust creating lava outpouring from the volcano.
Some eruptions are not as strong as others. All volcanic eruptions can vary in strength; with some
not reaching any civilians or causing too much damage. However, others can spread over a vast
area, sometimes reaching several miles from the volcano. Some eruptions do not always contain
lava flow or lava fountains which aren’t always very dangerous. However, some eruptions can be on
a huge scale, very violent and very, very dangerous with explosions heard from the volcano.
Some eruptions can be passive and not very dangerous however; some are explosive and can be
very and high dangerous. Some volcanoes do not just erupt from their peeks, some can have
eruptions at any part of the mountain, it’s not just the peeks that are the most deadly for volcano
eruptions. One of the biggest and well known eruptions was in Pompeii.
The entire city of Pompeii was buried when the volcano at Pompeii erupted. However, this is only
one example of a type of eruption; another type of eruption is in Norway, a volcano that had been
dormant for years suddenly became active, however, the local towns were evacuated and the
volcano erupted. However, there was no great scale eruption. Lava flowed but didn’t reach the
town, this was a very small eruption compared to many others.

TYPES OF VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS

Hawaiian Eruption
In a Hawaiian eruption, fluid basaltic lava is thrown into the air in jets from a vent or line
of vents (a fissure) at the summit or on the flank of a volcano. The jets can last for hours
or even days, a phenomenon known as fire fountaining. The spatter created by bits of
hot lava falling out of the fountain can melt together and form lava flows, or build hills
called spatter cones. Lava flows may also come from vents at the same time as
fountaining occurs, or during periods where fountaining has paused. Because these
flows are very fluid, they can travel miles from their source before they cool and harden.
Hawaiian eruptions get their names from the Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island
of Hawaii, which is famous for producing spectacular fire fountains.

Strombolian Eruption
Strombolian eruptions are distinct bursts of fluid lava (usually basalt or
basaltic andesite) from the mouth of a magma-filled summit conduit. The explosions
usually occur every few minutes at regular or irregular intervals. The explosions of lava,
which can reach heights of hundreds of meters, are caused by the bursting of large
bubbles of gas, which travel upward in the magma-filled conduit until they reach the
open air.

This kind of eruption can create a variety of forms of eruptive products: spatter, or
hardened globs of glassy lava; scoria, which are hardened chunks of bubbly lava; lava
bombs, or chunks of lava a few cm to a few m in size; ash; and small lava flows (which
form when hot spatter melts together and flows downslope). Products of an explosive
eruption are often collectively called tephraStrombolian eruptions are named for the
volcano that makes up the Italian island of Stromboli, which has several erupting
summit vents. These eruptions are particularly spectacular at night, when the lava glows
brightly.

Vulcanian Eruption
A Vulcanian eruption is a short, violent, relatively small explosion of viscous magma
(usually andesite, dacite, or rhyolite). This type of eruption results from the
fragmentation and explosion of a plug of lava in a volcanic conduit, or from the rupture
of a lava dome (viscous lava that piles up over a vent). Vulcanian eruptions create
powerful explosions in which material can travel faster than 350 meters per second (800
mph) and rise several kilometers into the air. They produce tephra, ash clouds, and
pyroclastic density currents (clouds of hot ash, gas and rock that flow almost like fluids).

Vulcanian eruptions may be repetitive and go on for days, months, or years, or they
may precede even larger explosive eruptions. They are named for the Italian island of
Vulcano, where a small volcano that experienced this type of explosive eruption was
thought to be the vent above the forge of the Roman smith god Vulcan

Plinian Eruption
The largest and most violent of all the types of volcanic eruptions are Plinian eruptions.
They are caused by the fragmentation of gassy magma, and are usually associated with
very viscous magmas (dacite and rhyolite). They release enormous amounts of energy
and create eruption columns of gas and ash that can rise up to 50 km (35 miles) high at
speeds of hundreds of meters per second. Ash from an eruption column can drift or be
blown hundreds or thousands of miles away from the volcanoPlinian eruptions are
extremely destructive, and can even obliterate the entire top of a mountain, as occurred
at Mount St. Helens in 1980. They can produce falls of ash, scoria and lava bombs
miles from the volcano, and pyroclastic density currents that raze forests, strip soil from
bedrock and obliterate anything in their paths. These eruptions are often climactic, and
a volcano with a magma chamber emptied by a large Plinian eruption may subsequently
enter a period of inactivity.

Lava Domes
Lava domes form when very viscous, rubbly lava (usually andesite, dacite or rhyolite) is
squeezed out of a vent without exploding. The lava piles up into a dome, which may
grow by inflating from the inside or by squeezing out lobes of lava (something like
toothpaste coming out of a tube). These lava lobes can be short and blobby, long and
thin, or even form spikes that rise tens of meters into the air before they fall over. Lava
domes may be rounded, pancake-shaped, or irregular piles of rock, depending on the
type of lava they form from.

WHEN CAN AN ERUPTION HAPPEN

Volcanic eruptions happen deep down inside the earth. When the earth’s tectonic plate’s shift, it
causes more than just earthquakes, it can create new volcanoes or vents. Underneath the surface
of the earth, debris, gases from the planet and molten rock are stored creating new formations of
vents and volcanoes.
As soon as the magma thickens and builds up with the gases of planet can create explosions and
cause lava to flow upwards and have ash released into the air causing thick clouds of smoke often
seen overhead volcanoes. If there is an increased magma but a decrease of planet gases, then the
eruption will not be as great.
However, lava can reach an amazing heat possibly even 2000 degrees Fahrenheit; sometimes it can
be even higher than that. Lava can actually destroy everything in its path, even an entire village.
There can be huge rocks or even boulder types reigning down from the volcano and onto populated
areas. There can also be toxic gases and ash which causes severe lung problems to many
vulnerable people including children and elderly people.
Volcano eruptions can happen at any given time. If there is a change to the tectonic plates in which
a volcano sits on, then it can erupt at any given time. There is no set time as to when they will erupt
or how much damage they’ll cause.

FACTS ABOUT VOLCANIC ERUPTION

Volcanoes are openings in the Earth’s surface. When they are active they can let ash, gas and hot
magma escape in sometimes violent and spectacular eruptions.
Volcanoes are usually located where tectonic plates meet. This is especially true for the Pacific Ring of
Fire, an area around the Pacific Ocean where over 75% of the volcanoes on Earth are found.
Hot liquid rock under the Earth’s surface is known as magma, it is called lava after it comes out of a
volcano.
Some famous volcanic eruptions of modern times include Mount Krakatoa in 1883, Novarupta in 1912,
Mount St Helens in 1980 and Mt Pinatubo in 1991.
While we certainly have some big volcanoes here on Earth, the biggest known volcano in our solar
system is actually on Mars. Its name is Olympus Mons and it measures a whooping 600km (373 miles)
wide and 21km (13 miles) high.
There are also volcanoes found on the ocean floor and even under icecaps, such as those found in
Iceland.
Volcanoes can be active (regular activity), dormant (recent historical activity but now quiet) or extinct (no
activity in historical times and unlikely to erupt again). While these terms are useful, scientists are more
likely to describe volcanoes by characteristics such a how they formed, how they erupt and what their
shape is.
Volcanic eruptions can send ash high into the air, over 30km (17 miles) above the Earth’s surface.Large
volcanic eruptions can reflect radiation from the Sun and drop average temperatures on Earth by around
half a degree. There have been several examples of this over the last century.
Pumice is a unique volcanic rock (igneous) that can float in water. It can also be used as an abrasive and
is sometimes used in beauty salons for removing dry skin.

WHAT EFFECTS DO VOLCANOES CAUSE?

DANGEROUS EFFECTS:
Volcanic eruptions can cause earthquakes, fast floods, mud slides, and rock falls. Lava can travel very far
and burn, bury, or damage anything in its path, including people, houses, and trees. The large amount of
dust and ash can cause roofs to fall, makes it hard to breathe, and is normally very smelly. The ground
around the volcano is not secure and can cause big earthquakes.
 Houses and trees are destroyed

Lava
Ash, Gas, and Dust

A lot of scientists believe that really big volcanic eruptions can change weather around the world. Ash
clouds sometimes float very high in the air for years, so sunlight cannot get to the earth, causing snow and
frost in the summer in a lot of countries.
GOOD EFFECTS:
The main good effect that volcanoes have on the environment is to give vitamins to the soil around them.
Volcanic ash contains minerals that help plants grow, and if the ash is very soft, it will quickly get mixed into
the soil.
Another good thing about volcanoes is that their sides are often steep and hard to reach, making them a
safe place for plants and animals to live.
Also, volcanoes are a very important source of life. Their gases are what created our water and
atmosphere. This has been happening for 4.5 billion years.
Other important good effects of volcanoes include the creation of natural glass, sulfur, copper, and nickel.

What Can You Do Before A Volcanic Eruption?

There are steps which anyone can take before a volcano erupts and they are very simple steps.
These small but simple steps can help protect homes, and protect your families also in the event of a
volcanic eruption. If you live in an area which has an active volcano, even if it might be up to 100
miles away, there is still a risk because a volcano can erupt at any time.
 Have An Emergency Supply Kit
This can be a small but important kit of some of the simplest items such as water, and non
perishable foods. You should look to add batteries, radios, battery powered or hand cranked radios.
You can also have torches or flashlights just in case of a power cut or blackout; and have a first aid
kit should anyone get hurt.
All of these supplies should be kept in a location which is easy to reach such as a car just in case
you need to be evacuated or are being told to do so. If possible, try to add breathing masks or
goggles to see through thick ash clouds.
 Emergency Plan
A disaster such as a volcano erupting can happen at any given time and it does mean your family
mightn’t be at home when it happens. This is why you do need to think about getting in contact with
other family members and meeting up again. You need to think carefully about all eventualities and
have a good plan to get the family reunited once again.
These are simple plans but if you do live in an area very close to an active volcano, they could end
up saving your life and your family’s.
You might not realize or understand that a volcano is active or is about to erupt either, however,
when a volcanic eruption occurs, you have to be vigilant. You have to be aware of what could
happen and how a volcano works.