One of the most amazing and mysterious geological formations on Earth are volcanoes. However, many of us have only a superficial understanding of them. What is the nature of volcanism? Where and how does a volcano form?
How does a volcano erupt?
How and why processes lie in the bowels of the Earth. During the accumulation of magma, a large amount of thermal energy is generated. The temperature of the magma is quite high, but it is not capable of melting because the crust presses on it from above. If the layers of the earth's crust put less pressure on the magma, the hot magma becomes liquid. It gradually becomes saturated with gases, melts rocks on its way and in this way makes its way to the surface of the earth.
If a volcanic vent is already filled with frozen and solidified lava, then an eruption will not occur until the amount of magma pressure is sufficient to push out this plug. always accompanied by an earthquake. Ash can be thrown up to a height of several tens of kilometers.
Volcanoes are mountain-shaped formations from which hot magma erupts. How is a volcano formed? When there are cracks in the earth's crust, hot magma erupts toward its surface under pressure. The slopes of a volcano are formed as a result of the sedimentation of rocks, lava, and ash near the vent.
On August 24, 79, people looked at their patron in horror and could not understand why they had angered the gods so much. How did it happen that their protector suddenly began to spew out flames that spread across the ground and destroyed everything in its path? The residents of Pompeii already knew: unexpectedly for everyone, the volcano woke up. What it is, what volcanoes are like and why they suddenly wake up, we will look at today in this article.
What is a volcano?
A volcano is a kind of formation on the surface of the earth's crust, which from time to time is capable of erupting pyroclastic flows (a mixture of ash, gas and stones), volcanic gases, and lava. It is in the zones volcanic activity opportunities are opening up for the use of geothermal energy.
Types of volcanoes
Scientists have adopted a classification of volcanoes into active, dormant and extinct.
- Active volcanoes are those that erupt during a historical period of time. It is thanks to them that one can understand what a volcano is and the mechanisms that make it act, because direct observation of the process provides much more information than the most thorough excavations.
- Dormant volcanoes are called dormant volcanoes that are currently inactive, however, there is a high probability of their awakening.
- Extinct volcanoes include those that were active in the past, but today the probability of their eruption is zero.
What shapes do volcanoes come in?
If you ask a schoolchild what shape a volcano has, he will undoubtedly say that it looks like a mountain. And he will be right. The volcano actually has the shape of a cone, which was formed during its eruption.
The volcanic cone has a vent - this is a kind of outlet channel through which lava rises during an eruption. Quite often there is more than one such channel. It may have several branches that serve to bring volcanic gases to the surface. The vent always ends in a crater. It is into this that all materials are thrown out during an eruption. A curious fact is that the vent is open only during the period of volcanic activity. The rest of the time it is closed, until the next manifestation of activity.
The time during which the volcanic cone formed varies individually. It mainly depends on how much material the volcano releases during its eruption. Some require 10 thousand years to do this, others can form it in one eruption.
Sometimes the opposite processes also happen. During an eruption, the volcanic cone collapses, and in its place a large depression is formed - a caldera. The depth of such a depression is at least one kilometer, and the diameter can reach 16 km.
Why do volcanoes erupt?
We figured out what a volcano is, but why does it erupt?
As you know, our planet does not consist of a single piece of rock. It has its own structure. On top is a thin, hard “shell” that scientists call the lithosphere. Its thickness is only 1% of the radius of the globe. In practice, this means from 80 to 20 kilometers, depending on whether it is land or the bottom of the oceans.
Beneath the lithosphere is a layer of mantle. Its temperature is so high that the mantle is constantly in a liquid, or rather viscous, state. At the center is the solid core of the earth.
As a result of the fact that lithospheric plates are in constant motion, magma chambers can arise. When they break out to the surface of the earth's crust, a volcanic eruption begins.
What is magma?
Here, it is probably necessary to explain what magma is and what chambers it can form.
Being in constant motion (albeit invisible to the naked human eye), lithospheric plates can collide or creep onto each other. Most often, slabs whose dimensions are larger “win” those whose thickness is smaller. Therefore, the latter are forced to plunge into the boiling mantle, the temperature of which can reach several thousand degrees. Naturally, at this temperature the plate begins to melt. This molten rock with gases and water vapor is called magma. Its structure is more fluid than the mantle, and also lighter.
How does a volcano erupt?
Thanks to these structural features of magma, it begins to slowly rise and accumulate in places called foci. Most often, such centers become places where the earth's crust breaks.
Gradually, magma occupies all the free space of the source and, for lack of any other way out, begins to rise through cracks in the earth’s crust. If magma finds a weak spot, it does not miss the opportunity to break out to the surface. In this case, thin sections of the earth's crust are broken through. This is how a volcano erupts.
Places of volcanic activity
So what places on the planet, given volcanic activity, can be considered the most dangerous? Where are the most dangerous volcanoes in the world located? Let's find out...
- Merapi (Indonesia). This is the largest volcano in Indonesia, and also the most active. It does not allow local residents to forget about itself, even for one day, constantly releasing smoke from its crater. At the same time, small eruptions occur every two years. But you don’t have to wait long for big ones either: they happen once every 7-8 years.
- If you want to know where volcanoes are, you should probably take a trip to Japan. This is truly a “paradise” of volcanic activity. Take, for example, Sakurajima. Since 1955, this volcano has constantly disturbed local residents. Its activity shows no sign of decreasing, and the last major eruption occurred not so long ago - in 2009. A hundred years ago, the volcano had its own island, but thanks to the lava that it erupted from itself, it was able to connect with the Osumi Peninsula.
- Aso. And again Japan. This country is constantly suffering from volcanic activity, and the Aso volcano is proof of this. In 2011, an ash cloud appeared above it, the area of which was more than 100 kilometers. Since that time, scientists have constantly recorded tremors, which can indicate only one thing: the Aso volcano is ready for a new eruption.
- Etna. This is the most big volcano Italy, which is interesting because it has not only a main crater, but also many small ones located along its slope. In addition, Etna is distinguished by enviable activity - small eruptions occur every two to three months. It must be said that the Sicilians have long been accustomed to such a neighborhood, and are not afraid to populate the slopes.
- Vesuvius. The legendary volcano is almost half the size of its Italian brother, but this does not prevent it from setting many of its own records. For example, Vesuvius is exactly the volcano that destroyed Pompeii. However, this is not the only city that has suffered from his activities. According to scientists, Vesuvius more than 80 times destroyed cities that were not lucky enough to be close to its slopes. The last major eruption occurred in 1944.
Which volcano on the planet can be called the highest?
Among the named volcanoes there are quite a lot of record holders. But which one can bear the title “The Most high volcano on the planet"?
It is necessary to take into account: when we say “the highest,” we do not mean the height of the volcano above the surrounding area. We are talking about the absolute altitude above sea level.
Thus, scientists call the Chilean Ojos del Salado the highest active volcano in the world. For a long time he was classified as sleeping. This status of the Chilean allowed the Argentinean Llullaillaco to bear the title “The highest volcano in the world.” However, in 1993, Ojos del Salado produced an ash release. After that, it was carefully examined by scientists who managed to find fumaroles (steam and gas outlets) in its crater. Thus, the Chilean changed his status, and, without knowing it, brought relief to many schoolchildren and teachers, for whom pronouncing the name Llullaillaco is not always easy.
To be fair, Ojos del Salado does not have a high volcanic cone. It rises above the surface only 2000 meters. While the relative height of the Llullaillaco volcano is almost 2.5 kilometers. However, it is not for us to argue with scientists.
The whole truth about the Yellowstone volcano
You cannot boast that you know what a volcano is if you have never heard of Yellowstone, which is located in the USA. What do we know about him?
First of all, Yellowstone is not a tall volcano, but for some reason it is called a supervolcano. What's the matter here? And why was Yellowstone discovered only in the 60s of the last century, and even then with the help of satellites?
The fact is that the Yellowstone cone collapsed after its eruption, resulting in the formation of a caldera. Considering its gigantic size (150 km), it is no wonder that people could not see it from Earth. But the collapse of the crater does not mean that the volcano can be reclassified as dormant.
There is still a huge chamber of magma under the Yellowstone crater. According to scientists' calculations, its temperature exceeds 800 °C. Thanks to this, many thermal springs, and, in addition, jets of steam, hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide constantly appear on the surface of the earth.
Not much is known about the eruptions of this volcano. Scientists believe that there were only three of them: 2.1 million, 1.27 million and 640 thousand years ago. Considering the frequency of eruptions, we can conclude that we may witness the following. It must be said that if this really happens, the Earth will face the next Ice Age.
What troubles do volcanoes bring?
Even if we do not take into account the fact that Yellowstone can suddenly wake up, the eruptions that other volcanoes in the world can prepare for us also cannot be called harmless. They cause enormous destruction, especially if the eruption happened suddenly and there was no time to warn or evacuate the population.
The danger is not only lava, which can destroy everything in its path and cause fires. Don’t forget about toxic gases that spread over vast areas. In addition, the eruption is accompanied by emissions of ash, which can cover vast areas.
What to do if the volcano “comes to life”?
So, if you find yourself at the wrong time and in the wrong place when a volcano suddenly wakes up, what should you do in such a situation?
First of all, you need to know that the speed of the lava is not that high, only 40 km/h, so it is quite possible to escape, or rather, drive away from it. This must be done in the shortest way, that is, perpendicular to its movement. If this is not possible for some reason, you need to look for shelter on a hill. It is also necessary to take into account the likelihood of a fire, therefore, if possible, it is necessary to clear the shelter of ash and hot debris.
In open areas, a body of water can save you, although much depends on its depth and the force with which the volcano erupts. Photos taken after the eruption show that people often find themselves defenseless before such a powerful force.
If you are one of the lucky ones and your house survived the eruption, be prepared to spend at least a week there.
And most importantly, do not trust those who say that “this volcano has been sleeping for thousands of years.” As practice shows, any volcano can wake up (photos of destruction confirm this), but there is not always someone to tell about it.
There are more than 50 volcanoes in Ecuador, and only eight of them are active, that is, in a state of constant or periodic eruption. The largest of them, the Tungurahua volcano, is located several tens of kilometers from the capital of Ecuador, Quito, with a population of just over 2 million people. The height of this volcano is 5,016 km.
But Tungurahua - in the language of the indigenous Quechua Indians this means “Fiery Throat” - is not the most “aggressive” volcano on the planet. Another Latin American country is leading here, Chile, where the Calbuco volcano, located in the southeast of Lake Llanquihue and in the south of the country, is currently erupting. Chile is one of the five countries with the largest number of active volcanoes.
Expert volcanologists point out that there are a great many factors accompanying the eruption of any volcano - the nature of the eruption itself, the proximity of the volcano to settlements, the strength of the eruption, etc., so it is simply impossible to make a list of the most dangerous. However, they agree on naming the five countries with the most active volcanoes on the planet, noting that due to the lack of monitoring and study of the history of many volcanoes, it is very difficult to determine which volcanoes are the most active. This is also facilitated by the fact that reports compiled by various organizations were sometimes incomplete and their conclusions did not coincide.
Chile. There are about 95 active volcanoes here. Currently, the most active are Villarica, in the south, whose most recent eruption occurred in March this year, and Copahue, located on the border with Argentina, which almost constantly spews columns of gas and, periodically, ash. Other Chilean volcanoes have also been active more recently: Puyehue (2011) and Chaitén (2008). According to Ami Donovan, a volcanologist at the University of Cambridge (UK), it is also important to mention the Lascar volcano in Atacama, in the north of the country, where a new volcanic process began in 2006.
Indonesia. It is believed that there are about 120 active volcanoes in this country. Mount Merapi, 400 km from the capital Jakarta, is one of the most active volcanoes, whose location allows you to observe it in close proximity. Mount Sinabung, in northern Sumatra, erupted in early April this year. Tambora, a super-volcano, triggered the largest eruption on record in 1815, its ash plume reaching more than 30 km in height and the eruption affecting crops across much of Europe, causing famine and disease.
USA. It is estimated that there are 130 active volcanoes here, which are constantly monitored. Deciding whether or not to conduct expensive monitoring of a given volcano, Donovan says, is a difficult decision because eruptions are so rare. Scientists can observe a volcano that has not erupted for thousands of years, but failure to monitor and “awakening” the volcano is fraught with many unpredictable consequences, especially if it is located near populated areas.
Hawaii is home to the Kilauea volcano, the most active on the island and one of the most active in the world as a whole, which erupted in 1993. The United States is also home to Mount Santa Helena, located in Washington County, whose famously devastating eruption in 1980 claimed 57 lives.
Japan. It is the center of the largest number of active volcanoes. According to Bill McGuire, emeritus professor of geophysics and climate disasters at University College London, there are about 66 of them, including the famous Fuji, which could erupt at any time. Sakurahima is another active colossus located in the south of Kuishu Island. Due to its danger, authorities warned the population of the need to evacuate. Another volcano, Ontake, the second highest in the country, is located in the central region. It erupted in September 2014, causing more than 30 deaths and injuring dozens of Japanese.
Russia. Here, most active volcanoes are concentrated on the Kamchatka Peninsula, in the easternmost corner of the vast country. They form part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. It is difficult to strictly determine the exact number of volcanoes located on the Kamchatka Peninsula, from several hundred to more than a thousand. The volcanoes of Kamchatka are characterized by a wide variety of shapes and sizes; they were formed in different periods and are currently active to varying degrees. Most of them are dormant volcanoes that are not currently active, however, some volcanoes are active. Currently, there are about 29 active volcanoes in Kamchatka.
Despite their deadly nature, various volcanoes have long attracted people. Previously, people were attracted by fertile soils, enriched with minerals and trace elements due to the activity of volcanoes, now tourists are attracted by the beauty and majesty of these natural objects.
Where are the largest volcanoes on the world map?
Most of the modern active volcanoes are located in Pacific volcanic ring- the area in which it occurs greatest number eruptions and 90% of earthquakes on our planet.
The second most powerful seismic zone is the Mediterranean fold belt, which stretches from the Indonesian islands to.
The strongest eruption in history
The most destructive eruption in terms of its consequences is considered to be the catastrophe that occurred in 1883 during the explosion Krakatoa volcano located in . During this cataclysm, more than 36 thousand people died, more than 165 cities and villages were completely destroyed, and ash was released to a height of 70 kilometers.
The force of the explosion during the eruption exceeded the force of a nuclear bomb over Hiroshima by 10 thousand times. Most deaths are a consequence of huge tsunami caused by the eruption. The island on which Krakatoa was located was almost completely destroyed during the disaster. The sound of the explosion spread over a distance of 5 thousand kilometers from the epicenter of the disaster.
Earth's Greatest Active Volcanic Mountains
The largest active volcanoes in the world by volume:
- Mauna Loa, Hawaii, with a volume of 80 thousand cubic kilometers;
- Kilimanjaro(Tanzania), which is considered dormant but could potentially become active, has a volume of 4,800 cubic kilometers;
- Volcano Sierra Negra, located in the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) has a volume of 580 cubic kilometers.
Which country has the largest source of lava?
In terms of size, there is no equal to the Hawaiian volcano Mauna Loa, which has a volume of 80 thousand cubic kilometers. The title of the highest is disputed by 2 volcanoes from South America:
- Llullaillaco, located on the border of Argentina and Chile with an altitude of more than 6 thousand meters;
- Cotopaxi, located in Ecuador with an altitude of 5897 meters.
Description with names
There are between 1000 and 1500 active volcanoes on our planet. Many of them are located near densely populated areas and pose a threat to human life. The most dangerous volcanoes, which are under special surveillance, are included in UN Decade Volcanoes list.
Merapi
Merapi, which means in Indonesian "mountain of fire", recognized as one of the most dangerous volcanoes in Asia. It is located in the south of the island of Java in Indonesia, and its peak rises to a height of 3 thousand meters.
Significant eruptions of Merapi occur at intervals of approximately 7 years; throughout its history, Merapi has repeatedly caused the death of many people. In 1930, the eruption killed 1,400 people, and in 2010 more than 350 thousand people had to be evacuated, killing 353 island residents.
Located near Merapi Yogyakarta city, in the agglomeration of which more than 2 million people live. Due to its activity and danger to human life, Merapi is included in the list of Volcanoes of the Decade.
Sakurajima
Sakurazdima Volcano (Japan) is located on Kyushu island, its peak rises to a height of 1110 meters. The first eruption recorded by chronicles occurred in 963, and the most powerful one dates back to 1914, but thanks to the tremors that preceded it, most of the local residents managed to evacuate, and “only” 35 people died.
Since the mid-20th century, the volcano has been constantly active. Happen every year thousands of small explosions and ash emissions.
In 2013, there was a large ash emission reaching a height of 4000 meters.
Sakurajima is also on the list of Volcanoes of the Decade.
Aso
Volcano Aso is also located on Kyushu island in Japan. The highest point of Aso is at an altitude of 1592 meters. During the period of observation of the volcano, about 165 large and medium eruptions occurred, many of which resulted in human casualties.
The last time people died as a result of a volcanic eruption was in 1979, when 3 people died and 11 were injured. But Aso is dangerous not only for its eruptions, poisonous volcanic gas fumes They regularly poison tourists who try to conquer Aso. The last such incident occurred in 1997, when two climbers died.
The last eruption of Aso was noted in 2011, ash emission occurred to a height of up to 2 kilometers.
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Nyiragongo
Nyiragongo is located in the territory DR Congo in the Virunga mountain system (Africa). In the crater of the volcano there is the world's largest lava lake, the depth of which can reach 3 kilometers. In 1977, the crater wall ruptured, causing a large flow of lava into the surrounding area, ultimately killing 70 people.
During observations of Nyiragongo since 1882, it was recorded 34 major volcanic eruptions. A feature of the Nyiragongo eruptions is the extremely rapid flow of lava, reaching speeds of 100 kilometers per hour. During a major eruption in 2002, 400 thousand residents of the city of Goma, located near the volcano, were evacuated. Nevertheless, 147 of them died as a result of this cataclysm, and the city itself suffered significant damage.
All these factors make Nyiragongo one of the the most dangerous volcanoes on the planet, for which he was rightly included in the list of Volcanoes of the Decade.
Galeras
The Galeras volcano is located in Colombia near the city of Pasto, whose population is more than 400 thousand people. Its height exceeds 4200 meters. Due to its danger, Galeras was included in the list of Volcanoes of the Decade that pose the greatest threat in the foreseeable future.
It is believed that over the past 7,000 years, Galeras has experienced at least 6 major eruptions, the last of which was recorded in 1993.
Mauna Loa
The Mauna Loa volcano is located on Hawaiian Islands belonging to the United States of America. This giant volcano occupies more than half the area of Hawaii, the height of the peak above sea level is 4169 meters, but most of the volcano is located under water. Together with the underwater part, its height from base to top reaches 9170 meters, which exceeds the height of Everest.
Mauna Loa erupts according to what is called Hawaiian type with an outpouring of lava, but without explosions and large ash emissions. Observations of the volcano have been carried out only since 1832, but during this time 39 major eruptions of Mauna Loa have been recorded. This volcano was included in the list of Volcanoes of the Decade due to the huge lava flows accompanying the eruption and the densely populated area in its immediate vicinity.
The summit of the volcano and its slopes were included in the list UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Colima
The most active volcano in Central America is located in the state of Jalisco. Thanks to her activity, Colima received the nickname "little Vesuvius", its height exceeds 3800 meters.
Over the past 450 years, more than 40 large and medium-sized volcanic eruptions have been recorded, the last of which occurred on September 12, 2016. More than 400 thousand people live near Colima, making it the most dangerous volcano America. For this reason, the volcano was included in the list of Volcanoes of the Decade.
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Vesuvius
The most famous volcano in the world is located on the Apennine Peninsula in. The lonely peak of Vesuvius, 1281 meters high, rises above the vast fields of the province of Campania and is part of the Apennine mountain system.
Located just 15 kilometers from Naples, Vesuvius has repeatedly gone down in history with its catastrophic eruptions; about 80 major ones alone were recorded. In 79 AD, the most destructive eruption of Vesuvius, during which famous cities perished:
- Pompeii;
- Oplontis;
- Herculaneum;
- Stabiae.
It is believed that at least 16 thousand people died during this disaster.
In 1944, the last eruption of Vesuvius occurred, during which cities were destroyed Weight And San Sebastiano, 27 people became victims. Since then, Vesuvius has not shown much activity, but the danger of a new eruption always remains. Vesuvius is one of the main attractions of the province of Campania and a visit to it is included in sightseeing tour when traveling to Naples.
Etna
Another famous volcano in Italy is located in the east of the island of Sicily and is the highest volcano, rising to a height of 2329 meters. Etna erupts several times a year. History has recorded several major eruptions of this volcano that led to devastating consequences:
- Was destroyed in 122 AD Catania city;
- In 1169, during the large-scale eruption of Etna, they died 15 thousand people;
- In 1669, Catania suffered again, houses were destroyed 27 thousand people;
- In 1928, the ancient Maskali city.
Despite the danger of the volcano, the inhabitants of the island continue to settle on its slopes. The reason for this is fertile soil, enriched with minerals and trace elements contained in cooled lava flows and ash.
Etna is one of the main natural attractions of Sicily; tourists from all over the world come to see the volcano and climb to its top.
Popocatepetl
Volcano Popocatepetl, or El Popo, as locals affectionately call it, is located in Mexico, 70 kilometers from the capital of this country, Mexico City. The height of the volcano is almost 5500 meters. Popocatépetl has erupted more than 15 times over the past 500 years, with the most recent one occurring as recently as 2015. An extinct volcano is located near Popocatepetl. Iztaccihuatl.
A trip to these volcanoes is an integral part of the excursion program when visiting Mexico City.
Klyuchevskaya Sopka
The highest volcano in Eurasia is located on the Kamchatka Peninsula and is considered the most famous of the many volcanoes of Kamchatka. The highest point outside the Caucasus Mountains reaches an altitude of 4750 meters. It is the most active volcano in Eurasia, with an average of almost every year. The last significant eruption occurred in 2013, the height of the ash emission was 10-12 kilometers. The eruption was accompanied by mud flows and ashfall.
Cotopaxi
The active Cotopaxi volcano is located in South America on the territory of the state Ecuador part of the Andes mountain system. The height of the peak of Cotopaxi is 5897 meters. In the entire history of observations, 86 eruptions have been recorded, the largest of which led to the complete destruction of the city of Latacunga in 1786. The last activity of Cotopaxi was noticed in 1942, after which the volcano is still dormant.
Famous extinct giants
In addition to active volcanoes, there are many on our planet extinct volcanoes that do not exhibit volcanic activity.
Supreme
The tallest extinct volcano on the planet, Aconcagua, is located in Argentina and is part of the Andes mountain system. Aconcagua is not only the highest extinct volcano in the world, but also the highest peak in the Americas, Western and Southern Hemispheres. The height of Aconcagua exceeds 6950 meters.
Sleeping giants
Many extinct volcanoes are now considered simply mountains, although some of them could potentially “wake up” and begin to become active. Such volcanoes, which may become active in the future, are called "sleeping".
- Famous Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (Africa) is a dormant volcano that is not active. Scientists believe that one day Kilimanjaro may wake up, then this potential volcano will become one of the highest in the world, because the height of Kilimanjaro is 5895 meters above sea level.
- The largest extinct volcano in Russia is 5642 meters. It is located on the border of the republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia. Refers to the list of the highest peaks in six parts of the world. Scientists consider the activity of the volcano not so much completed as fading.
- The largest volcano of our time cannot be visited and is very difficult to see, since it is under water. Array Tamu located at the bottom Pacific Ocean and is located approximately 1600 kilometers east of Japanese Islands. Its dimensions are 650 by 450 kilometers; in scale, the array is one of the largest not only on Earth, but in the entire solar system. The last volcanic eruption occurred 140 million years ago.
- Dormant volcanoes Big and Small Ararat are now located on the territory and belong to the category of volcanoes that do not exhibit volcanic activity. The peak of Mount Great Ararat, reaching 5165 meters, is highest point Turkey.
- One of the highest peaks of the Caucasus, Mount Kazbek is also an extinct volcano. Kazbek is located on the border with Russia, the top point of the mountain is located at an altitude of more than 5 kilometers. During research, volcanic ash from an eruption that allegedly occurred 40 thousand years ago was found in one of the Kazbek caves.
Colossal supervolcano Yellowstone was considered extinct, but scientists have found that there is little activity in it, so now Yellowstone is classified as a dormant volcano. The giant last erupted almost a million years ago.
It is believed that if Yellowstone wakes up, a potential eruption will become one of the largest disasters in the history of the Earth, every third inhabitant of the planet will die, and several US states will be completely destroyed.
Yellowstone eruption will provoke many earthquakes, giant tsunami waves and other volcanic eruptions, which will affect almost every inhabitant of the planet. The ash ejected by the volcano will cover the surface of the earth from the sun for a year and a half, and a volcanic winter will occur throughout the planet.
However, not all scientists believe that the consequences of this cataclysm will be so serious. In any case, the eruption of this volcano remains one of the main potential threats to humans.
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Watch a video about these and other volcanoes in the world:
Since ancient times, volcanoes have been a threat to humans, destroying blooming cities(Pompeii, Saint-Pierre), caused famine, influenced the climate of the planet. At all times they have fascinated people with their amazing power and terrified them with unpredictable eruptions. Now at least 500 million people, i.e. about 8% of the total population of the Earth, live within the reach of damaging factors of volcanic activity (Tokyo, Jakarta, Manila, Quito, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, etc.). Therefore, the observation and study of volcanic processes remain relevant today. The science of volcanology deals with them.
Volcanology has become a branched field of knowledge these days. To study its problems, the joint work of scientists from different branches of science is necessary. Geologists bring knowledge about the earth's crust and its evolution. Geochemistry studies the composition of rocks and minerals. Geophysics studies the physical properties of the rocks that make up the globe: with its help, they monitor the movement of plates, magnetic fields and their changes. Mathematics helps researchers analyze the data obtained, and modern computers facilitate this analysis.
Close monitoring of volcanoes can reduce the risk to the public. There is a whole “scenario” in which nature is preparing a volcanic explosion, and the task of scientists is to better understand the sequence of events. In the 20th century, large eruptions of volcanoes Pinatubo (Philippines, 1991), Rabaul ( New Guinea, 1994) and Soufriere (Guadeloupe, 1995)
Earth, one of the nine planets in the solar system, was formed 4.6 billion years ago. The earth began its life in the form of a ball consisting of gas and dust. The young Earth was a hot, fire-breathing planet, volcanically active, with a surface of molten rocks spewing smoke and gases into the atmosphere. Gradually, the surface of the earth began to cool and individual plates from the solidified melt formed the primary earth's crust.
Volcanoes are geological formations above channels or cracks in the earth's crust through which lava, hot gases, ash and water vapor erupt to the surface. They are named after the Roman god of fire, Vulcan.
There are about 1,500 active volcanoes on earth. An active volcano is one that erupts periodically at the present time or at least once in the last 10,000 years. A volcano that has never erupted in 10,000 years is called dormant. Dormant volcanoes can wake up, and, conversely, active volcanoes can subside for a long period. In addition, there is underwater volcanic activity, and many volcanoes on the ocean floor have not yet been discovered. Sometimes new volcanoes unexpectedly form on land. Every year about 50 volcanoes become active.
Volcano Eribus, discovered in 1841 by J. Ross. The height of the Vulcan is 3794 m.
Where do volcanoes occur?
Volcanoes form at the boundaries of colliding lithospheric plates, which means they stretch in long chains, such as the Pacific “Ring of Fire.” It stretches from Alaska through the Aleutian and Commander Islands to the eastern coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, Kuril Islands and Japan. There are 526 volcanoes within the “ring of fire”. There are volcanoes on all continents, and they are located mainly along the boundaries of continental plates. Even in the heart of Antarctica, South Pole, the active volcano Erebus rises above the expanse of ice. (Volcano Erebus, discovered in 1841 by J. Ross. The height of the Volcano is 3794 m.) Most of the planet’s volcanoes are hidden at the bottom of the oceans. It is believed that there are more than 55,000 volcanoes underwater. The majority of the Pacific Islands owe their existence to volcanoes. Among them, the volcanoes of the Hawaiian Islands are the most studied.
How do volcanoes form?
The earth can be imagined as an egg. The shell corresponds to the earth's crust, the white to the mantle, and the yolk to the core. In this case, the temperature should increase as it approaches the yolk. At a depth of 100 km. The Earth's interior is heated to 1000 degrees and above, and the center of the core is heated to 4000-5000 degrees. The pressure in the center of the core reaches incredible values. At the center of the Earth there is a solid core consisting mainly of iron and nickel. The core has internal and external parts. The outer core is in a liquid or molten state. The core is surrounded by a mantle, consisting of dense rock in a solid state. The heat emitted by the core sets the mantle material in motion. Hot rocks rise up from the core and fall back down when they cool. The earth's crust is the hard shell of the earth. Masses of the earth's crust drifting along the Earth's surface under the influence of the mantle are called lithospheric plates. The movement of lithospheric plates makes it possible to understand the causes of tremors and volcanic activity. The overwhelming number of volcanoes are located along the boundaries of lithospheric plates.
The center of the core and mantle is so hot that many rocks melt. Magma rises upward, melting rocks, and forms a volcanic conduit. Together with gases, it is pushed to the surface through weak points in the earth's crust in the form of lava. The volcano can smoke for many years until an eruption occurs. The red-hot lava seethes, overflows over the edge of the crater and rushes in a fiery stream along the slopes of the volcano. Due to gas emissions, lumps of molten rock fly out of the crater in the form of a picturesque fiery fountain.
Volcanic eruptions are deadly. During volcanic eruptions, many people die, entire cities perish, for example, the city of Pompeii was completely buried during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
Dwellings in volcanic rocks
However, volcanoes also bring benefits, creating fertile soils and leaving valuable building material on the surface of the Earth. Since prehistoric times, people have carved homes into volcanic rocks. Later, durable volcanic rocks began to be used for construction. The strongest and hardest rocks are formed from volcanic magma. But, despite the enormous risk, people continue to live and farm on the slopes of volcanoes because volcanic ash contributes to the formation of exceptionally fertile soil. An example of this is the rice fields at the foot of a volcano in Indonesia. Among the chemical elements that make up volcanic rocks, there are those that are of particular value to humans. For example, sulfur.
The internal heat of the earth is used for industrial and domestic purposes. In Iceland, for example, power plants use hot underground water. This station supplies electricity to the capital Reykjavik. In addition, in volcanic areas there are often hot springs and mud, which are used to treat people with diseases of the musculoskeletal system, respiratory system, skin, nervous system, kidneys, etc.
The geological processes that shape the appearance and internal structure of our planet proceed extremely slowly and cannot be directly observed. The only exception is volcanic activity. When volcanoes erupt, the appearance of certain parts of the Earth can change beyond recognition in a matter of minutes. This alone makes scientists take special interest in manifestations of volcanism. And if we add the possibility of direct contact with the “inner content” of the planet and the incredible effectiveness of the spectacle, it becomes clear that people have been interested in volcanoes for a long time. Scientists who study volcanoes are called volcanologists. Some of the first volcanologists were the ancient Greek philosopher Empedocles (490-435 BC), Lord William Hamilton (English ambassador in the 18th century), Frenchman Alfred Lacroix (professor National Museum natural history in the 19th century).
And today, scientists are trying to understand how to determine where and when an eruption will occur. Today, volcanologists are armed with computers that allow them to simulate eruptions and thus anticipate events, as well as satellites that are capable of measuring deformations of the earth’s surface with millimeter accuracy and transmitting it to Earth in the form of images. All this is done in order to prevent the irreparable. In addition to the direct impact of volcanoes (lava, ash, hot gases, rockfalls, etc.), the cause of death is indirect consequences (tsunamis, earthquakes, famine, loss of livestock, etc.). In this regard, scientists are constantly monitoring volcanoes.
There is a unique natural complex on the territory of Russia. On the territory of Kamchatka there are 28 active and 160 extinct volcanoes. Kronotsky Volcano is one of the most beautiful volcanoes on earth. The area adjacent to the volcano is declared a nature reserve. There is also a valley of geysers there.
On average, there are about 50 eruptions per year in the world. The most active volcano on the planet is Kilauea, located in the Hawaiian archipelago. The volcano rises only 1.2 km. above sea level, but its last long eruption began in 1983 and is still ongoing.
Lava flows extend 11-12 km into the ocean. Fortunately, particularly strong volcanic eruptions are quite rare.
Olympus Mons is the largest volcano in the solar system on Mars
Volcanic activity does not only occur on Earth. Research in space has made it possible to discover numerous volcanoes on other planets in the solar system. The largest volcano in the solar system is located on Mars - Olympus Mons, 26 km high. (three times higher than Everest) and with a diameter of 600 km.
Even the most powerful eruptions on Earth seem like New Year's fireworks compared to those that happen, for example, on Jupiter's moon Io. It is the most volcanically active known celestial body.
