About Volcanoes

Volcanoes

A volcano erupts when magma escapes from inside the earth. As the magma is escaping from a confined space, a lot of energy is released with it, as happens with any other explosion. This is why many eruptions also produce huge quantities of gases and dust. Magma sometimes rises under enormous pressure, so it not only finds cracks in the earth’s crust, it can also create them. When magma reaches the earth’s surface it is called lava. There are many ways for a volcano to start erupting. I shall name three ways that volcanoes can erupt. First of all, volcanoes can erupt at a divergent boundary between plates. This is when two plates move apart from each other. Volcanoes can also erupt at a convergent boundary between plates. This is when plates move toward each other, and collide. When plates slide past each other, not only does it create a fault line, it also causes volcanoes to erupt violently. There are three types of volcanoes. They are: subduction volcanoes, rift volcanoes, and hot spot volcanoes. What causes a volcano to stop erupting? A volcano stops erupting when it loses, or uses up the source of heat that melts the rock. If the source of heat returns at a later date, the volcano will erupt again.

How do volcanologists predict eruptions?

According to http://volcanoworld.wordpress.com/2009/03/06/how-do-volcanologists-predict-volcanic-eruptions/, “Seismometers can be used to pinpoint earthquakes which track the rise of magma and its movement along fissures. Measurements of the tilt of the entire mountain provide additional information about the “breathing” of the volcano as magma moves inside it. Instruments that sniff SO2, CO2 and other gases also can signal changes in the volcano.” Communities need to recover from an eruption. People could start by taking care of the ash by wiping it off roofs, driveways, and roads. Keep mind that ash is 10 times as dense as snow, so use heavy-duty equipment to clear out all ash. If there are any damaged properties, then you have to rebuild homes, buildings, and do the same things you would do if the community were stuck by a hurricane.