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Volcanic eruptions are super cool, but what happens after them? Learn about it on this page!
Volcanic eruptions can have serious consequences. However, when a volcano releases pent-up fury, it doesn't have to obliterate everything in sight. In fact, if you've ever strolled along a Waikiki beach at twilight, you've seen the creative power of volcanoes because eruptions helped build the Hawaiian Islands. On the other hand, the effects of powerful volcanoes can change lives forever and affect the entire planet in ways you may never have imagined.
The Ash Effect
The Ash Effect
Ash from volcanoes can do more than darken the skies, hurt air quality, contaminate water, coat highways, cover yards and ground airplanes. After an eruption, roofs on buildings may collapse and kill people if enough volcanic ash particles land on them. People can develop breathing problems, throat irritation and other respiratory issues when ash falls after a volcanic eruption.
Fires
Fires
When a volcano erupts, many things come in contact with the hot lava, causing fires. As you can imagine, these fires can be just as deadly as the lava that started them.
The Shockwave
The Shockwave
Volcanoes are extremely powerful. When Krakatoa erupted, it caused extreme damage. It had the power of 13,000 nuclear bombs! Krakatoa destroyed entire villages and killed over 36,000 people. The shockwave was so powerful that it destroyed most of the island and instruments detected the blast thousands of miles away.
The Lava
The Lava
If a plant or animal comes in contact with too much lava, they can die. For example, the Mount St. Helens eruption of 1980 killed about 24,000 animals. As plants and animals die, famine can arrive in areas where people rely on those food supplies.
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