One of the most awe-inspiring sites in nature is a volcanic eruption that is a phenomenal nature events often seen as a danger on a bigger scale. Volcanic eruptions can be dangerous for a whole community by causing death and destruction and even turn the entire island almost uninhabitable. These are often blamed for global warming and it does contribute to climate change and whether they can contribute significantly to clean technology. Volcanoes impact the climate change as during the major explosive eruptions huge amounts of volcanic gars, aerosols droplets, and ash are injected into the stratosphere.
1. Pyroclastic flows are mixtures of hot gases, ash and other volcanic rocks that move very rapidly on the slopes of volcanoes. Pyroclastic flows are so hot and stifling that if you get caught in a flow, you will most likely be killed. As these flows are very fast, it is impossible to overtake them. If a volcano known to produce pyroclastic flows seems likely to erupt soon, it is best to evacuate all people living near the volcano.
2. Volcanic ash is a volcanic rock that has exploded from a ventin into fragments of less than 2 mm. Volcanic ash particles are like small, sharp glass particles that damage everything they encounter. During a heavy ash blast, houses and buildings can collapse, people and animals can die from lack of oxygen. Ash clouds cause big problems for aviation: planes can crash when the ash clouds choke their engines. Ash clouds can also block sunlight and cause global cooling.
3. Volcanic gases: The devastating explosion of Mount Pinatubo (Philippines) on June 15, 1991 caused an incredible surge of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere where it combined with water to form acid rain (sulfuric acid). The new aerosol deteriorated the Earth’s ozone layer by altering chlorine and nitrogen compounds. The carbon dioxide released also contributed to global warming and acid rain
4. Lahars: However, of all the effects of volcanoes, mudslides or lahars are the most deadly. Mudflows, rock and water flows move down slopes and through valleys and streams at speeds of 20 to 40 mph. In some of the most extreme cases, lahars have a wet concrete consistency and flow up to 50 miles. They destroy houses, trees and huge rocks like a flood.
5. Debris avalanches and landslides can present many dangers. Mixing debris from a landslide or avalanche with water can produce harmful lahars. They can also dam rivers or cause flooding. A tsunami is perhaps one of the most significant hazards that can be produced by a volcanic eruption causing earthquakes, avalanches or landslides. Tsunamis are large sea waves that have long wave periods. When these waves reach coastal areas, they can travel far inland and cause a great deal of damage.
6. Tsunamis are large sea waves with long wave periods. Volcanic explosions occur when the magmas are asymmetrical with respect to the cone, causing an area of the volcano to swell outward and become unstable. At Mount St. Helena, the very hot (200°C) volcanic explosion devastated an area of 600 km2! Trees and buildings were razed and burned.
7. Lava flows burn or bury everything they encounter. They can crush houses, roads and other structures. The speed and strength of the lava flow depends on the type of lava. For example, Aa lava can leave the vent at a speed of about 50 km. The surface on which the lava flows will change by very quickly placing a very new and hot layer of rock on top of the pre-existing terrain. The pre-existing ground is destroyed by the lava flow. It is rare that people are killed directly by the lava. However, lava flows can start fires that are much more dangerous for the environment around the volcano.