How Volcanoes Change the World
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Volcanoes: Razing and Renewing the Earth
How Volcanoes Change the World
Article Home
What Is a Volcanic System?
Volcano Types
Mountainous Volcanoes
Supervolcanoes and Floodplains
Where Do Volcanic Systems Form?
Volcano Formation
The Famous Ring of Fire
Why Do (and Don’t) Volcanoes Erupt?
Viscosity and Gas
Can Scientists Forecast an Eruption?
The Major Warning Signs
More Warning Signs
Earth’s Most-Watched Volcanoes
How Volcanoes Change the World
Most volcanic explosions are local events, but Earth’s volcanic system has produced global
changes from the start. In fact, an Earth without volcanoes would be a pretty lonely place.
Digging
Deeper
Find out more
about
who Vulcan was and where he
lived.
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Very early in the planet’s history, massive and frequent
eruptions created the vital conditions for life to exist. The
explosions freed carbon dioxide and other gases that
were in the ground to form an atmosphere. The
atmosphere held in heat and allowed rain to fall. Fueled
by the Sun and carbon dioxide—the process of
photosynthesis—plants thrived. Volcanoes fertilized those
plants by spreading ash, which is rich in nutrients
—phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium.
Today, volcanic lands are still some of the most fertile
lands on Earth. Farmers risk living in the shadow of a
volcano to yield productive crops—which explains why
volcanic areas can be surprisingly populous.
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How Volcanoes Change the World
http://www.planetseed.com/print/93122
In many parts
of the world
cities and
towns have
been built
close to
volcanoes.
On the island
of Lipari, the
volcanoes are
Photo courtesy of volunteer Andrew Cutts. relatively
quiet, so the
residents
have built
houses
further and
further up the
mountain.
As with Anak Krakatau, the “child” of Krakatau, volcanoes are constantly producing new
land—new ocean floors, islands, and extensions of coastlines. In Hawaii, as hot lava meets
seawater, it explodes into tiny bits, creating beautiful black beaches.
Photo courtesy of volunteer Jenni James
Jayne.
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The hot lava
from Hawaii’s
volcanoes is
cooled
instantly when
it reaches the
ocean, causing
it to explode
into little sandy
bits. This
creates the
famous black
sand of the
island.
Volcanoes also help regulate
Earth’s global climate. In contrast
to global warming, massive
explosions like Krakatau or
Pinatubo cool the planet for a few
years. They unleash high clouds of
ash and dust that circle in the
upper atmosphere, blocking some
of the Sun’s energy.
That ash can disrupt the modern
world in other ways. Airplanes
flying through clouds of volcanic
ash can stall, as the engines get
clogged with debris. Because of
this, flights may be grounded.
Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano,
located under a glacier, erupted on
April 13, 2010, and sent large
plumes of ash airborne. However,
many airplanes fly across Iceland
as they travel from Europe to North
America, and on to other
destinations around the world.
Because of the danger of clogged
engines, these flights were
cancelled for days, forcing major
disruptions in world air travel.
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How Volcanoes Change the World
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The products of volcanoes are
useful. Volcanoes move diamonds
and metals toward the surface.
Galeras in Colombia even spit up
gold! Countries such as Iceland
depend on volcanoes to provide
Photo courtesy of volunteer geothermal energy—drawing heat
Yoko Morikami.
from the natural furnaces below
ground.
The direction of the ash
plume from Japan’s
Finally, don’t underestimate the
Sakurajima indicates the
power of beauty. Volcanoes are
larger direction of the winds some of the most stunning natural
in that area.
wonders on Earth.
Major Volcanic Eruptions in History
Date
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Volcano
What happened
79 CE Vesuvius, Italy
Eruption of falling ash, pumice, and rocks buries
Pompeii, and lahars (mudflows generated by volcanic
eruptions) engulf Herculaneum; 3,360 die.
1586
Kelut (Kelud), Java,
Indonesia
Lava erupting into the crater lake breaks through side of
mountain, causing lahars; approximately 10,000 die.
1669
Mount Etna, Sicily
A series of eruptions generates an enormous lava flow,
which destroys 16 villages and a small portion of the city
of Catania.
1754
Taal, Philippines
Major eruption destroys the towns of Taal, Sala, Lipa,
and Tanauan. The towns are moved to new locations.
1783
Laki, or Lakagigar, Iceland
Eight-month eruption generates poisonous gases and a
thick haze that kills crops and livestock, and interrupts
fishing on surrounding ocean. Most of Iceland’s livestock
die from eating contaminated grass; about one-fourth of
the people die from starvation.
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