Definition of Volcanic Eruption

The term volcano It comes from Vulcan, a deity from Roman mythology who was known for his qualities as a magician. Vulcan was the god of fire and the protector of blacksmiths.

Today the science that studies volcanoes is known as volcanology, a discipline very specific but of great strategic value, since knowing the mechanisms of volcanoes is essential to be able to face their effects.

Non-active volcanoes produce a sensation disturbing, since if they erupt they can cause devastating effects on nearby populations. In this way, volcanologists are forced to know why volcanoes are active and how they erupt.

The eruption of a volcano

Volcanoes are formed from the tectonic plates that support the continents. Thus, when tectonic plates collide with each other, tremors occur inside land and these end up unleashing mountain forms, of which some of them are volcanoes.

Volcanoes form when hot material from inside the earth rises and spills onto the crust

This hot material is called magma, a liquid substance with a

temperature very high. Thus, when a volcano erupts, what it does is expel the magma to the outside. Refering to force of the volcanic eruption this will depend on the pressure exerted from the interior of the volcano. In this way, magma can be released in several ways: with a lower intensity or in the form of an explosion. In any case, when a volcanic eruption occurs, a whole series of associated risks arise: landslides, emission of gases and lava, avalanches, etc.

The expelled lava can end up in the water and this produces a high toxicity that affects the living beings and, logically, it also represents a high risk for populations closest to the volcano. On the other hand, the ash that is generated as a result of a volcanic eruption has consequences on human health and can cause respiratory problems, eye pathologies and skin problems.

Positive effects of volcanic eruptions

That a volcano erupts is an obvious danger. However, not everything is negative. In fact, it must be emphasized that the land affected by a volcanic eruption has a very high fertility, which translates into good crops of fruit trees.

On the other hand, active volcanoes attract the attention of fans of nature in the wild. In recent years there is already the so-called tourism volcanic, being Iceland, the Philippines, Hawaii and Coast Rica the most valued destinations.

Photos: iStock - AZ68 / andersen_oystein

Issues in Volcanic Eruption