Describe major volcanic hazards and their potential effects.

Volcanic eruptions are one of Earth’s most dramatic and violent agents of change. Not only can powerful explosive eruptions drastically alter land and water for tens of kilometers around a volcano, but tiny liquid droplets of sulfuric acid erupted into the stratosphere can change our planet’s climate temporarily. Eruptions often force people living near volcanoes to abandon their land and homes, sometimes forever. Those living farther away are likely to avoid complete destruction, but their cities and towns, crops, industrial plants, transportation systems, and electrical grids can still be damaged by tephra, ash, lahars, and flooding.

What You’ll Learn to Do

• Recognize and describe the impact of volcanic hazards associated with active eruptions.
• Recognize and describe the impact of volcanic hazards associated with the aftermath of eruptions.

Learning Activities

The learning activities for this section include the following:

• Reading: Volcanic Gases, Pyroclastic Flow, and Tephra
• Reading: Lahars, Landslides, and Lavaflow
• Self Check: Volcanic Hazards

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