Volcanoes and Volcanic Eruptions (Reading 2)

Intro Pyroclastics: solid volcanic products, solidified magma Blown out when there is high gas pressure Volcanic ash (2mm)- Volcanic blocks (64mm) Low water/Low silica: results in a quiet, non-violent eruption Called shield volcanoes High water/High silica: usually results with volcanoes that have an explosive history Steam bubbles: expand (b/c of lower pressure) and throw out gases and solidified rock Volcano Features Formed by molten rock emerging through a vent Above or below water Ex: Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Vesuvius Crater: funnel shaped depression located atop a volcano Caldera: after explosion, top is removed, a larger crater takes its place Zones of Volcanic Activity Where plate edges meet 3 zones: Edge of Pacific Ocean, known as Ring of Fire Mediterranean Sea into Asia Iceland, through middle of Atlantic Ocean, known as Mid- Atlantic Ridge Plate movement results in Volcanoes when One plate goes under another, into Asthenosphere Magma comes between two diverging plates When a plates moves beneath a continent-bearing plate Hot Spots and Volcano Formation Hot spots beneath a lithospheric plate Melt rock, causing magma and volcanic eruption Hot spots are mostly stationary Inactive/Extinct volcanoes: when the volcano moves away from Hot Spot

A new volcano forms 100 hot spots around the world Ex: Yellowstone National Park and Iceland

Impact on Humans Negative effects Eruptions generally take many lives Caused from burns and suffocation Lava usually causes property extensive damage 5 most explosive Volcanic Eruptions in the past 200 years Terms: VEI: Volcanic Explosivity Index Numbers: 0=non-explosive/gentle eruption, 8=extremely explosive Tambora (1815) VEI = 7 Is now Indonesia About 60,000 deaths Krakatoa (1883) VEI = 6 Destroyed Indonesian Island of Krakatoa Caused red sunsets for years About 35,000 deaths Caused Tsunamis Formed new volcanic cone: Anak Krakatoa Novarupta (1912) VEI = 6 Located in remote part of Alaska Pinatubo (1991) VEI = 6 Philippines Caused by earthquakes from earlier that year About 900 deaths (after about 60,000 evacuated) Santa Maria (1902) Near Pacific Coast of Guatemala Other Relatively Recent and Significant Eruptions Mount St. Helens (1980) VEI = 5

Removed the top of it In Washington About 60 deaths Ash spread far and wide, reaching Oklahoma Wildlife and habitat destruction Natural resources destroyed The timber could have built about quarter million homes Agricultural destruction : about 7% of crops Cleanup: lots of time and money Eyjafjallajokull (2010) VEI = 2 Disrupted air travel Nearly 100,000 flights Moved in recent prior years Ash and smoke drifted over Europe Flooded roads and farms

Volcanic Eruptions: A Long-Term perspective Identify past behaviors/patterns Interpret info Monitor the volcano Empower citizens to be aware and take action Not as easy as it sounds Lack of funds Hard to monitor Benefits of Volcanoes: Provide initial source of air and water Increases fertility of soil Contain important sources for industrial materials (ex: boric acid and ammonia) Thermal energy Recreation and scenic enjoyment (ex: Hawaii)