A powerpoint by Jennifer Hall about volcanoes.

1. VOLCANOES

2. WHAT IS A VOLCANO?
A volcano is a mountain that opens downward to a pool
of molten rock below the surface of the earth. When
pressure builds up, eruptions occur. Gases and rock shoot
up through the opening and spill over or fill the air with
lava fragments. Eruptions can cause lateral blasts, lava
flows, hot ash flows, mudslides, avalanches, falling ash
and floods. Volcano eruptions have been known to knock
down entire forests. An erupting volcano can trigger
tsunamis, flash floods, earthquakes, mudflows and
rockfalls.

3. HOW ARE VOLCANOES FORMED?
Volcanoes are formed when magma from
within the Earth's upper mantle works its way
to the surface. At the surface, it erupts to
form lava flows and ash deposits. Over time
as the volcano continues to erupt, it will get
bigger and bigger.

4. Top 10 Deadliest Volcanoes in History

5. WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT STAGES OF
VOLCANOES?
Scientists have categorized volcanoes into three main
categories: active, dormant, and extinct. An active
volcano is one which has recently erupted and there is a
possibility that it may erupt soon. A dormant volcano is
one which has not erupted in a long time but there is a
possibility it can erupt in the future. An extinct volcano is
one which has erupted thousands of years ago and there’s
no possibility of eruption.

6. WHY DO VOLCANOES ERUPT?
The Earth's crust is made up of huge slabs called
plates, which fit together like a jigsaw puzzle.
These plates sometimes move. The friction causes
earthquakes and volcanic eruptions near the edges
of the plates. The theory that explains this process
is called plate tectonics.

7. Geography Lesson: What is a Volcano?

8. WHAT ARE PLATE TECTONICS?
The theory of plate tectonics is a interesting story of continents
drifting from place to place breaking apart, colliding, and grinding
against each other. The plate tectonic theory is supported by a wide
range of evidence that considers the earth's crust and upper mantle
to be composed of several large, thin, relatively rigid plates that
move relative to one another. The plates are all moving in different
directions and at different speeds. Sometimes the plates crash
together, pull apart or sideswipe each other. When this happens, it
commonly results in earthquakes.

9. Bill Nye: Pangea and Plate Tectonics

10. HOW MANY VOLCANOES ARE THERE?
There are more than 1500 active volcanoes on the
Earth. We currently know of 80 or more which are
under the oceans. Active volcanoes in the U.S. are
found mainly in Hawaii, Alaska, California, Oregon
and Washington.

11. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAVA AND
MAGMA?
Magma is liquid rock inside a volcano. Lava is
liquid rock (magma) that flows out of a
volcano. Fresh lava glows red hot to white
hot as it flows.

12. Magma and Lava

13. WHY DOES LAVA TAKE A LONG TIME TO COOL
DOWN?
Lava cools slowly because lava is a poor
conductor of heat. Lava flows slow down and
thicken as they harden.

14. WHAT IS PYROCLASTIC FLOW?
A pyroclastic flow is a fluidized mixture of solid to semi-
solid fragments and hot, expanding gases that flows down
the sides of a volcano. These awesome features are
heavier-than-air emulsions that move much like a snow
avalanche, except that they are fiercely hot, contain toxic
gases, and move at phenomenal, hurricane-force speeds.
They are the most deadly of all volcanic phenomena.

15. Pyroclastic Flow: Click to watch on Youtube

16. WHAT IS LAHAR?
A lahar is a type of mudflow or debris flow composed of
pyroclastic material, rocky debris, and water. The
material flows down from a volcano, typically along a
river valley. It is very dangerous because it's consistency
and the way it acts is very much like cement. It is liquid
when it's moving, but when it stops, it solidifies. This can
cause just as much devastation as lava itself.

17. Lahar

18. WHAT IS PUMICE?
Pumice is a light, porous volcanic rock that forms
during explosive eruptions. It resembles a sponge
because it consists of a network of gas bubbles
frozen amidst fragile volcanic glass and minerals.
All types of magma (basalt, andesite, dacite, and
rhyolite) will form pumice.

19. Pumice

20. WHAT IS THE LARGEST ACTIVE VOLCANO?
The world's largest, active volcano is Mauna
Loa in Hawaii, where famous coffee is grown
in the rich volcanic soils. Mauna Loa is 13,677
feet above sea level. From its base below sea
level to its summit, Mauna Loa is taller than
Mount Everest.

21. Mauna Loa

22. WHAT IS THE RING OF FIRE?
The Pacific Ring of Fire is an area of frequent
earthquakes and volcanic eruptions encircling the
basin of the Pacific Ocean. The Ring of Fire has 452
volcanoes and is home to over 50% of the world's
active and dormant volcanoes. Ninety percent of
the world's earthquakes and 81% of the world's
largest earthquakes occur along the Ring of Fire.

23. Ring of Fire

24. WHEN DID MOUNT ST. HELENS ERUPT?
On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted.
It's located in southwestern Washington State
in the Cascade Range. The blast was heard as
far away as Montana, Idaho, Canada and
California. Fifty-seven people died and the
eruption caused $1.2 billion in damage.

25. WHAT ARE SOME OTHER NOTABLE VOLCANO
ERUPTIONS?
Krakatoa was a dormant volcano in Indonesia, which
awakened and produced one of the biggest volcanic
eruptions in 1883. So massive was the eruption that the
sound of it was heard as far away as Australia. It’s widely
reported as the loudest sound heard in recorded history.
The Krakatoa eruption created a huge amount of ash cloud
which covered the Earth and reduced global temperatures
for 5 years! A total of 40,000 people died in that explosion
and an entire chain of the volcanic island was destroyed.

26. WHAT ARE SOME OTHER NOTABLE VOLCANO
ERUPTIONS?
Mount Pelee was a dormant volcano situated in the Caribbean
island of Martinique. In 1902, it erupted in a massive horizontal
explosion sending huge clouds of ash released towards the nearby
town of Saint-Pierre. The side of the volcano exploded and lava
flowed straight into the town, killing 30,000 people in a matter of
minutes. It is regarded as one of the biggest and most devastating
volcanic eruptions of the 20th century, a benchmark for future
eruptions.

27. WHAT ARE SOME OTHER NOTABLE VOLCANO
ERUPTIONS?
Mount Fujiyama, also popularly known as Mount Fuji, is an active volcano
which last erupted in 1708. It is incidentally the tallest mountain in Japan.
If you are visiting Tokyo, the capital of Japan, look in the west on a clear
day and you will be able to see Mount Fuji. It is an iconic volcano. Mount
Fuji is 3,776 meters high and it is snow clad throughout the year, with five
lakes surrounding it. Currently in a state of dormancy, there has not been
any eruption reported for more than 300 years. The last known eruption
lasted for about 3 weeks during which it covered the surrounding villages
with ash and cinders. Mount Fuji is now a popular tourist location with a
large number of climbers actively scaling the mountain top.

28. WHAT IS A TSUNAMI?
A tsunami is a large ocean wave usually caused by
an underwater earthquake or a volcanic explosion.
Tsunamis are NOT tidal waves. Tidal waves are
caused by the forces of the moon, sun, and planets
upon the tides, as well as the wind as it moves
over the water. With typical waves, water flows in
circles, but with a tsunami, water flows straight.
This is why tsunamis cause so much damage!

29. Volvcano and Tsunami

30. Earthquake and Tsunami

31. Tsunami in Japan

32. KNOW THE LINGO
MAGMA -
Magma is
the liquid
rock inside a
volcano.

33. KNOW THE LINGO
LAVA - Lava is
the liquid
rock (magma)
that flows out
of a volcano.
Lava glows
red hot to
white hot as it
flows.

34. KNOW THE LINGO
ACTIVE VOLCANO - An active volcano is one that erupts regularly.
DORMANT VOLCANO - A dormant volcano is one that has not
erupted for many years, although there is still some activity deep
inside.
EXTINCT VOLCANO - An extinct volcano is a volcano that is no
longer active.

35. KNOW THE LINGO
GEYSERS -
Geysers are
springs that
throw boiling
water high in the
air. They are
caused by
volcanic heat
warming trapped
ground water.

36. KNOW THE LINGO
ASH - Ash are
very small
fragments of
lava or rock
blasted into the
air by volcanic
explosions.