Britannica Illustrated Science Library: Volcanoes and Earthquakes by Encyclopedia Britannica

Author:Encyclopedia Britannica [Britannica, Encyclopedia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-10-29T23:50:29+00:00

announce its forthcoming eruption with

and hot lava were shot from this small

would take everything in its path.

clouds of vapor and smoke, these signs,

volcano that completely destroyed the

Volcanologists decided that Heimaey

instead of preventing a disaster, became

port city of Saint-Pierre. Most striking

Island, south of Iceland, should be

a tourist attraction. When the explosion

is the fact that this destruction took

evacuated. But a physics professor

AD 79

took place, it destroyed two thirds of

place in only a few minutes. The energy

proposed watering the lava with seawater

Volcanoes and Climate

the island. Stones shot from the volcano

released was so great that trees were

to solidify or harden it. Forty-seven pumps

There is a strongly supported theory

material blocks a portion of solar radiation,

reached a height of 34 miles (55 km)-

uprooted. Almost the entire population

were used, and, after three months and

MOUNT VESUVIUS

that relates climate changes to volcanic

reducing air temperatures around the world.

beyond the stratosphere. A crater 4

died, and only three people survived,

6.5 million tons (6 million metric tons) of

Naples, Italy

eruptions. The idea of linking the two

Perhaps the most notable cold period related to

miles (6.4 km) in diameter opened a

one of them because he was trapped in

water, the lava was stopped, and the port

phenomena is based on the fact that

volcanic activity was the one that followed the

chasm 820 feet (250 m) deep. Land and

the city jail.

was saved. The eruption began on

Volume of ejected ash

in cubic feet (cu m)

141,000 (4,000)

explosive eruptions spew huge amounts of

eruption of Tambora in 1815. Some areas of

islands were swept bare.

January 23 and ended on June 28.

gases and fine particles high into the

North America and Europe had an especially

Victims

2,200

stratosphere, where they spread around the

harsh winter.

Characteristics

Active

Earth and remain for years. The volcanic

The cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum

1980

were destroyed in AD 79 when Mount

Vesuvius erupted. Until that day, it was

MOUNT ST. HELENS

not known that the mountain was a

State of Washington, U.S.

KALAPANA. After the Kilauea

volcano because it had been inactive for

volcano (Hawaii) erupted in 1991,

Volume of ejected ash

35 billion

over 300 years. This was one of the first

a lava flow advanced on the city,

in cubic feet (cu m)

(1 billion)

eruptions to be recorded: Pliny the

covering everything in its path.

Victims

Younger stated in one of his manuscripts

57

that he had seen how the mountain

Characteristics

Active

exploded. He described the gas and ash

cloud rising above Vesuvius and how

Also known as the Mount Fuji of the

thick, hot lava fell. Many people died

American continent. During the 1980

because they inhaled the poisonous gases.

explosion, 1,315 feet (401 m) of the

mountain's top gave way through a

fault on its side. A few minutes after

the volcano began its eruption, rivers

of lava flowed down its sides, carrying

away the trees, houses, and bridges in

their path. The eruption destroyed

whole forests, and the volcanic debris

devastated entire communities.

1783

LAKI VOLCANO

1982

Iceland

EL CHICHÓN VOLCANO

Volume of ejected ash

490 billion

Mexico

in cubic feet (cu m)

(14 billion)

1815

Victims

10,000

Volume of ejected ash

No figures

in cubic feet (cu m)

available

Characteristics

Very active

TAMBORA VOLCANO

1944

Victims

2,000

Indonesia

MOUNT VESUVIUS

Characteristics

Active

In spite of the fact that the eruptions

Naples, Italy

the previous one in 1906, caused severe

Volume of ejected ash

100 billion

are related to conic forms, most of the

370 miles (600 km) away from the epicenter

material damage. The eruptions were

in cubic feet (cu m)

(3 billion)

Volume of ejected ash

No

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