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Volcano Eruption

When a volcano erupts at the Earth's surface, it can produce lots of different things, including:

Lava

Lava

  • Lava is magma (molten rock) above the surface of the Earth.
Gases

Gases

  • Volcanoes emit lots of gases like sulfur.
Ash

Ash

  • Ash is tiny pieces of burnt rock fragments that are blown into the atmosphere, usually at some force.
  • These pieces fall on land and can float in the air, causing a volcanic winter (by blocking out the sun).
  • A volcanic winter describes when a volcano erupts, producing lots of ash, which then blocks the sun. Mount Pinatubo's 1991 eruption reduced global temperatures for 3 years.
Pyroclastic flows

Pyroclastic flows

  • Pyroclastic flows are currents of hot ash, lava and gas that can move downhill at speeds of up to 500km/h during an eruption.
  • Pyroclastic flows are impossible to outrun.
  • They can reach temperatures of up to 1000oC and can cover distances of up to 30km from the volcano.
Diagram
Jump to other topics
1

The Challenge of Natural Hazards

1.1

Natural Hazards

1.2

Tectonic Hazards

1.3

Weather Hazards

1.4

Climate Change

2

The Living World

2.1

Ecosystems

2.2

Tropical Rainforests

2.3

Hot Deserts

2.4

Tundra & Polar Environments

3

Physical Landscapes in the UK

3.1

The UK Physical Landscape

3.2

Coastal Landscapes in the UK

3.3

River Landscapes in the UK

3.4

Glacial Landscapes in the UK

4

Urban Issues & Challenges

5

The Changing Economic World

5.1

The Changing Economic World

5.2

Economic Development in the UK

6

The Challenge of Resource Management

6.1

Resource Management

6.2

Food

6.3

Water

6.4

Energy

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