Volcano fact file

Volcanic eruptions can cause immense destruction and devastation, yet at the same time, they are essential for the long-term health of our planet.

Is it just us or is it getting hot in here, gang? Prepare to delve into the depths of the earth and uncover these seriously hot volcano facts — if you dare! He was the Roman god of fire! Ask your parents to check out Nat Geo Kids magazine! Ever heard of mantle plumes? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!

Volcano fact file

The Tungurahua volcano erupts in the night. Tungurahua, also called the Black Giant, is one of Ecuador's most active volcanoes. Volcanoes are Earth's geologic architects. They've created more than 80 percent of our planet's surface, laying the foundation that has allowed life to thrive. Their explosive force crafts mountains as well as craters. Lava rivers spread into bleak landscapes. But as time ticks by, the elements break down these volcanic rocks, liberating nutrients from their stony prisons and creating remarkably fertile soils that have allowed civilizations to flourish. There are volcanoes on every continent, even Antarctica. Some 1, volcanoes are still considered potentially active around the world today; of those—over 10 percent—sit within the boundaries of the United States. But each volcano is different. Some burst to life in explosive eruptions, like the eruption of Mount Pinatubo , and others burp rivers of lava in what's known as an effusive eruption, like the activity of Hawaii's Kilauea volcano.

The eruption and its immediate dangers killed around 10, people.

You can do many things to protect yourself and your family from the dangers a volcanic eruption can cause. The best way to protect yourself and your family is to follow the advice of local officials. Volcanoes spew hot, dangerous gases, ash, lava, and rock that are powerfully destructive. People have died from volcanic blasts. Volcanic eruptions can result in additional threats to health, such as floods, mudslides, power outages, drinking water contamination, and wildfires. Health concerns after a volcanic eruption include infectious disease, respiratory illness, burns, injuries from falls, and vehicle accidents related to the slippery, hazy conditions caused by ash. When warnings are heeded, the chances of adverse health effects from a volcanic eruption are very low.

Over millions of years, volcanic eruptions have not only built the Hawaiian archipelago, they continually transform its landscape. Without volcanoes, there would be no Hawaii. The eight primary islands that make up this archipelago owe their existence to a roiling spot of magma deep under the ocean floor known as the Hawaii hotspot. The hotspot is thought to lurk for now below the archipelago's youngest and most active landmass, the Big Island of Hawaii. While the hotspot itself remains largely stationary, the overriding Pacific plate does not; it creeps northwest at a rate of three to four inches each year. Because of this, the volcanic activity on the planet's surface also shifts.

Volcano fact file

In in Washington, after years of hibernation, Mount St. Helens erupted. The blast destroyed and scorched square miles square kilometers of forest within minutes. The eruption released an avalanche of hot ash, gas, steam, and rocks that mowed down giant trees up to 15 miles 24 kilometers away. Volcanoes erupt in different ways.

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Such an event was responsible for wiping out the people of Pompeii and Herculaneum after Mount Vesuvius erupted in A. How did people survive? Most gases from a volcano quickly blow away. As the descending landmass sinks deep into the Earth, temperatures and pressures climb, releasing water from the rocks. Is Iceland's latest eruption the most dangerous yet? Love animals? Ask your parents to check out Nat Geo Kids magazine! Warning signs include small earthquakes, swelling or bulging of the volcano's sides, and increased emission of gasses from its vents. A superheated plume of hot ash and gas shot 28 miles into the sky, producing numerous pyroclastic flows when it collapsed. Animals Do happy hens make better eggs? Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. See all. Travel Do you know the secret history of cannoli? None of those signs necessarily mean an eruption is imminent, but they can help scientists evaluate the state of the volcano when magma is building. But each volcano is different.

Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Geological Survey Fact Sheet , , 4 p.

If you are human, leave this field blank. Animals Bats can sing—and this species might be crooning love songs. In this situation, a zone of magmatic activity —or a hotspot—in the middle of a tectonic plate can push up through the crust to form a volcano. Importantly, however, the volcanoes of the ring aren't geologically connected. Although gases usually blow away rapidly, it is possible that people who are close to the volcano or who are in the low-lying areas downwind may be exposed to levels that may affect health. Discover other forces of nature with our geography features , including tornado facts , hurricane facts , tsunami facts and more! From sea level it is 4, metres high. Environment The Little Ice Age was brutal. Such an event was responsible for wiping out the people of Pompeii and Herculaneum after Mount Vesuvius erupted in A. The majority of volcanoes in the world form along the boundaries of Earth's tectonic plates—massive expanses of our planet's lithosphere that continually shift, bumping into one another.