Reasons of Volcanic Eruptions

Even though volcanic eruptions are not necessarily forming any trends, several experts have said that there are many dangerous volcanoes in our countries.    

The world’s volcanoes can be deadly — and destructive. The fact that we know about the destructive ones doesn’t mean we should ignore their destructive properties.   

Volcanoes have been erupting for thousands of years, and there are more than 1,500 active volcanoes. While most stay quiet, a few have the potential to cause devastation if they erupt.

Volcanic eruptions can be extremely dangerous, and we’re here to tell you that they aren’t going anywhere. We provide you with the information about volcanoes that matters most to you and your family.

Determining which volcanoes pose the greatest dangers to local populations can be a complicated affair. However, making such determinations involves analyzing certain key factors.

Many factors are considered when measuring the danger of a volcano. These include the population density surrounding an active volcano, the types of magma that create an eruption and the volcano’s eruption history.

For example, a remote volcanic eruption is safer than one in a more populated area that requires mandatory evacuations. And dormant volcanoes are even more dangerous because pressure can build up inside them.

How to Detect the Level of Danger?

According to Stanley Mertzman, a geosciences professor at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa Magma Content is one way to assess a particular volcano’s danger level. 

He says experts will look at the level of silica, a rock-forming compound that affects the thickness of lava and a volcano’s overall shape, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The magma content is one way to assess a particular volcano’s danger level.

Silica is an indicator of how dangerous an eruption can be because it tends to crystallize into chains in cooling lava, increasing its viscosity, in turn creating thicker magma that can make a volcano erupt more explosively.

As the magma rises and cools, minerals like quartz and feldspar crystallize and settle out along with the dissolved gas, Mertzman says. This results in a rapid increase of dissolved silica, which can eventually trigger a volcanic eruption.

Deadliest Volcanoes That Can Destroy the World 

• Mount Rainier

Mount Rainier is a potentially dangerous volcano that could erupt at any time. Its lava flows could melt the snow and ice on the volcano, causing a rapid flood of mud, rocks and debris downstream.

The USGS says Mt. Rainier, an active volcano about 50 miles southeast of Seattle, is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the U.S., given its high elevation, proximity to heavily populated areas and the ability to produce pyroclastic flows, lava flows and volcanic ash.

• Novarupta Volcano

Located in Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve, the Novarupta volcano is home to one of the twentieth century’s greatest volcanic eruptions.

While many different geological events have shaped Alaska, one of the most dramatic took place nearly a century ago when Mt. Novarupta erupted in a fury that is unmatched in the state’s history.

The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes was formed in 1912 after a major eruption from the Novarupta Volcano in Katmai National Park and Preserve.

• Mount Pinatubo

Mount Pinatubo is situated in a populated region of the Philippines. It erupted in 1991 after producing pyroclastic flows that formed a lake-filled caldera. The eruption was the second-largest eruption of the 20th century, closely following Novarupta.

Mount Pinatubo is an anomalous volcano in Southeast Asia. It is situated in a populated region of the Philippines but still can make an immense number of changes.

• Mount St. Helens

The 1980 eruption of Washington’s Mount St. Helens resulted in the most destructive volcanic event in U.S. history, killing 57 people, thousands of animals, and destroying an area greater than the size of Rhode Island. It is known for the eruption column that towered 5 miles high into the air, which produced pyroclastic flows that rushed down the sides of the mountain at speeds over 100 mph.

The USGS, which is our preferred source for geology news, has stated that future volcanic events are highly likely at Mount St. Helens. If another explosive eruption were to occur (and according to history, that’s more than likely), there will be a massive amount of ash that will fall across the Pacific Northwest. This volcano is under careful observation by the USGS.

• Mount Agung

The Mount Agung volcano in Indonesia is an ideal location for adventure seekers with its nearly four decades of history. It is also a great place for romantic getaways since it looks so majestic when viewed from above.

The Mount Agung Volcano in Bali, Indonesia has been dormant for the past half-century. However, it has been experiencing increased seismic activity since September 2017, leading locals to worry that their beautiful island paradise may soon be in danger.

• Mount Fuji

Japan is home to the famous Mount Fuji, which has not erupted since 1707. It’s called Fujisan by locals. According to research by Oregon State University, the volcano is set to erupt following 2011’s 9th magnitude earthquake, which triggered increased pressure beneath the mountain.

The 1707 eruption changed life in the region forever. This volcanic feature may reappear again, threatening lives and livelihoods.

• Mount Merapi

Mount Merapi is one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, so much so that it has been continuously erupting for centuries.

For centuries, Mount Merapi has been continuously erupting. But there’s something you might not know. NASA reports that Merapi’s biggest risk is its pyroclastic flows. While these lava-like fires can spread at fast speeds, they can also threaten people for miles around. 

• Mount Vesuvius

Vesuvius has been a menacing figure since an eruption in 79 CE buried the city of Pompeii.” The volcano is near Naples, Italy, and is famous for its volcano-view vineyards.

Vesuvius is the only volcano in the world that has produced two different kinds of eruptions-Plinian (explosive) and basaltic (lava effusion). The 17,000-year history of this volcano is marked by eight major explosive eruptions and several smaller volcanic eruptions.

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