VOLCANIC ERUPTION

Q1. What is a volcano?

Ans: 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.

Q2. How are volcanoes formed?

Ans: 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.

Q3. What are the different stages of volcanoes?

Ans: 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 theres no possibility of eruption.

1
 VOLCANIC ERUPTION

Q4. Why do volcanoes erupt? Support your answer from scientific as well as islamic
perspective.
Ans: Volcanoes erupt because of density and pressure. The lower density of
the magma relative to the surrounding rocks causes it to rise (like air bubbles in syrup). It will
rise to the surface or to a depth that is determined by the density of the magma and the weight
of the rocks above it. As the magma rises, bubbles start to form from the gas dissolved in the
magma. The gas bubbles exert tremendous pressure. This pressure helps to bring the magma
to the surface and forces it in the air, sometimes to great heights.
In Islamic perspective, when the people do not obey the rules of Allah then He (ALLAH)
punish the people in different forms, such as Volcanoes, Earthquakes etc. In Quran we have
the examples of such peoples who do not follow the rules of Allah. The people of Hazrat Lut
(A.S), as the Quran tells us, practiced a perversion unknown to the world up to then, namely
sodomy. When Lut told them to give up this perversion and brought them Allah's warning,
they denied him, refused his prophethood, and carried on with their perversion. In the end,
these people were destroyed by a dreadful disaster.

Q5. Locate places where the volcanoes erupt frequently?

Ans: Below are listed some of the most dangerous and frequently erupted volcanoes due to
their explosive history and proximity to large populations.
1. Yellowstone Caldera, United States

2
 VOLCANIC ERUPTION

2. Mt. Vesuvius, Italy

3. Popocatpetl Mexico

4. Sakurajima Japan

3
 VOLCANIC ERUPTION

5. Galeras Colombia

6. Mount Merapi Indonesia

7. Mount Nyiragongo DR Congo

4
 VOLCANIC ERUPTION

8. Ulawun, Papua New Guinea

9. Taal Volcano Phillipines

10. Mauna Loa Hawaii

5
 VOLCANIC ERUPTION

Q6. What is the difference between lava and magma?

Ans: 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.

Q7. Why does lava take a long time to cool down?

Ans: Lava cools slowly because lava is a poor conductor of heat. Lava flows slow down and
thicken as they harden.

Q8: Were there any major volcanic eruptions in 21st century around the world? Name those places
and also record the death toll in these eruptions? Enlist from mathematical perspective in form of
a table.

Ans: Volcanic eruptions in 21st century:

6
 VOLCANIC ERUPTION

Year Volcano Location Deaths

2002 Nyiragongo Africa-C 100

Democratic
2002 Nyiragongo Republic of 245
the Congo

Luzon-
2006 Mayon 1266
Philippines

Mount
2010 Indonesia 353
Merapi

Nabro
2011 Eritrea 31
Volcano

2014 Sinabung Indonesia 15

2014 Dundebus Ecuador 2

Q9. Is there any technology that can help peering into volcanoes safely? Find out and record the
information.
Ans: Monitoring volcanoes is a tough gig. You've got to know what's going on but getting too close is
a deadly proposition.
Fortunately, technology has made it easier than ever to keep tabs on magma- and ash-spewing mountains
around the globe. Much of this technology allows researchers to keep way back (even watching
volcanoes from space) while keeping a close eye on volcanic activity. Some of these technologies can
even penetrate cloud-swathed volcano peaks, allowing researchers to "see" ground changes that could
signal an imminent eruption or dangerous lava dome collapse.
A gassy job: Monitoring volcanoes used to be a matter of getting boots on the ground. In-person
fieldwork still happens today, of course, but now scientists have far more tools at their disposal to track
changes around the clock.
For example, researchers at one time had to troop to volcanic gas vents, pull out a bottle to capture the
gas, and then send the sealed bottle to a lab for analysis. That technique was time-consuming and
dangerous, considering that a great number of volcanic gases are deadly. Now, scientists much more
frequently turn to technology for these dirty jobs. Ultraviolet spectrometers, for example, measure the
amount of ultraviolet light from sunlight absorbed by a volcanic plume. This measurement allows
researchers to determine the amount of sulfur dioxide in the cloud.
Measuring movement: Other high-tech techniques track volcano-triggered ground movement
Tiltometers, which are exactly what they sound like, measure how the ground tilts in a volcanic area,
another telltale sign that something might be stirring below ground.

7
 VOLCANIC ERUPTION

Having an eye in the sky is handy for tracking volcanic changes, too. Satellite imagery can reveal even
minute elevation changes on the ground. One popular technique, called interferometric synthetic aperture
radar (or InSAR), involves two or more satellite images taken from the same spot in orbit at different
times. Changes in how quickly the satellite's radar signal bounces back into space reveal subtle
deformations in the Earth's surface. Using this data, scientists can create maps showing ground changes
down to the centimeter.
Cutting-edge tech:
Increasingly, scientists are turning to unmanned drones to swoop close to a volcano while keeping
humans out of harm's way. In March 2013, NASA flew 10 remote-controlled unmanned drone missions
into the plume of Costa Rica's Turrialba volcano. The 5-pound (2.2 kilograms) drones carried video
cameras filming in both visible and infrared light, sulfur dioxide sensors, particle sensors and air-
sampling bottles. The goal is to use data from the plume to improve computer predictions of volcanic
hazards such as "vog," or toxic volcanic smog.

Q10. Which tools are used by technologists to predict volcanic eruptions?

Ans: Volcanology has come a long way since the days of Pompeii. Now, satellite-based
systems offer a way of measuring whether a volcano is likely to erupt soon.
Satellite radar maps show that volcanoes usually deform before an eruption. Measuring that
deformation from space could make it possible to forecast when volcanoes will erupt,
especially in remote areas that can't be accessed easily by scientists on the ground.

Q11. What are the impacts of infrared, satellite and other technologies on volcanic eruptions?
Ans: In ancient time, we couldnt detect the volcanic eruption and when the eruption occurs it causes
alot of hazards which are very dangerous. Now a days, technologies have changed that trend and we
can find and detect the volcanic eruptions and we can know when the volcano is about to erupt through
modern technologies like infrared,satellite etc.

Q12.How does a volcano affect the environment?

8
 VOLCANIC ERUPTION

Ans: Negative effects on the environment

Volcanoes help keep the earth cool by removing heat from the interior. They have produced
the atmosphere and the water of the oceans. They make islands and add to the continents.
Volcanoes are proof that the Earth is alive, active, and ever changing.
Volcanic eruptions are one of Earth's most dramatic and violent agents of change. Not only
can powerful explosive eruptions drastically alter land and water for tens of kilometers around
a volcano, but tiny liquid droplets of sulfuric acid erupted into the stratosphere can change our
planet's climate temporarily. Eruptions often force people living near volcanoes to abandon
their land and homes, sometimes forever. Those living farther away are likely to avoid
complete destruction, but their cities and towns, crops, industrial plants, transportation
systems, and electrical grids can still be damaged by tephra, lahars, and flooding.
A serious environmental effect of volcanoes is burial by ash, mud, or lava. During heavy ash-
rains houses and buildings may collapse. Lava flows are streams of molten rock that pour or
ooze from the erupting vent. They destroy everything in their path, but most move slowly
enough that people can move out of the way. Everything in the path of an advancing lava
flow will be knocked over, surrounded, buried by lava, or ignited by the extremely hot
temperature of lava.
Positive effects on the environment
Although volcanoes have the reputation of being very dangerous, there nevertheless are
advantages of living near a volcano.
Volcanoes provide resource for energy extraction, also called geothermal resources. Heat
from the earth's crust is being converted to energy and is a useful way to generate electricity.
The big advantages to this type of energy are that is is very clean and the resources are nearly
inexhaustible.
When a volcano erupts it throws out a lot of ash. At short notice this ash can be very harmful
to the environment, but on the long term the ash layer, which contains many useful minerals
will be converted to a very fertile soil. The main good effect that volcanoes have on the
environment is to provide nutrients to the surrounding soil. Volcanic ash contains minerals
that are beneficial to plants, and if it is very fine ash it is able to break down quickly and get
mixed into the soil.
Volcanoes can produce very spectacluar scenery like the beautiful sunsets caused by explosive
eruptions. Other features include plant-rich environments, stunning eruptions, beautiful lava
fountains, etc.

9
 VOLCANIC ERUPTION

Q13. Find out the reason why soil gets more fertile after a volcanic eruption?
Ans: Volcanic soils are fertile due to the minerals and nutrients from volcanic eruptions.
Volcanic soils also contain small amounts of iron which plants need to make chlorophyll.

Q14: What are the benefits and hazards of living on or near volcanoes? How can the hazards be
avoided?
Ans: BENEFITS:
Sea - There tends to be abundant sea life near volcanic islands, so there will be lots of seafood.
Fertile soils - The volcanic ash from eruptions is very fertile and good for farming.
Tourism - Volcanos are good for tourism, bringing towns lots of money.
Quarry - There are lots of stone deposits from volcanic eruptions, which can be converted into quarries.
Geothermal energy - There will be natural vents near the volcano, in the ground which can be used to
provide geothermal energy.
HAZARDS:
Sea - During a volcanic eruption earthquakes happen, and tsunamis may be created. Also, if it is a
volcanic island, the island may be destroyed, and there is no escape.
Lava flow - These are very slow moving, but destructive as they cannot be stopped and they set fire to
everything in their path.
Pyroclastic flow - These are impossible to outrun, travelling at about 300 km/h, and are extremely
destructive.
Mudflow/lahar - These are mud rivers that have the consistency of cement, and destroy everything in
their path, including buildings.

A volcanic eruption can be an awesome and destructive event. Here are some tips on how to avoid danger
and what to do if you're caught near an eruption.
Safety Tips
Stay away from active volcanoes.
If you live near an active volcano, keep goggles and a mask in an emergency kit, along with a flashlight
and a working, battery-operated radio.

10
 VOLCANIC ERUPTION

Know your evacuation route. Keep gas in your car.

If a Volcano Erupts in Your Area
Evacuate only as recommended by authorities to stay clear of lava, mud flows, and flying rocks and
debris.
Avoid river areas and low-lying regions.
Before you leave the house, change into long-sleeved shirts and long pants and use goggles or
eyeglasses, not contacts. Wear an emergency mask or hold a damp cloth over your face.
If you are not evacuating, close windows and doors and block chimneys and other vents, to prevent ash
from coming into the house.
Be aware that ash may put excess weight on your roof and need to be swept away. Wear protection
during cleanups.
Ash can damage engines and metal parts, so avoid driving. If you must drive, stay below 35 miles (56
kilometers) an hour.

Q15: Study islamic history and find out in which prophets time volcanic eruption took place. Was
there any punishment in the form of volcanic eruption? If so, are there any after effects found
today? Also find out if there is any connection between Dead sea and the inhabitants arount it?
What is it?
Ans: Volcanic eruption took place in the time of Hazrat Lut A.S. The evidence of this eruption is our
Holy Quran. In Quran ALLAH said that
The people of Lut rejected (his) warning. We sent against them a violent Tornado with showers of
stones, (which destroyed them), except Lut's household: them We delivered by early Dawn,- As a Grace
from Us: thus do We reward those who give thanks. And (Lut) did warn them of Our Punishment, but they
disputed about the Warning. (Surat al-Qamar: 33-36)
And yes there was a punishment in the form of volcanic eruption because Lut was sent as a messenger to
one of Ibrahim's neighbouring communities. These people, as the Quran tells us, practiced a perversion
unknown to the world up to then, namely sodomy. When Lut told them to give up this perversion and
brought them Allah's warning, they denied him, refused his prophethood, and carried on with their
perversion. In the end, these people were destroyed by a dreadful disaster.
The city where Lut resided is referred to as Sodom in the Old Testament. Being situated at the north of
the Red Sea, this community is understood to have been destroyed just as it is written in the Quran.
Archaeological studies reveal that the city is located in the area of the Dead Sea which stretches along the
Israel-Jordan border.
Despite all of this, things have not changed much where Pompeii once stood. The districts of Naples
where debauchery prevails do not fall short of those licentious districts of Pompeii. The Island of Capri is
a base where homosexuals and nudists reside and is represented as a Homosexual paradise in tourist
commercials. Not only on Capri and in Italy, but in nearly all the world, a similar moral degeneration is at
work and people insist on not learning from the awful experiences of past peoples.

The Lake of Lut, as well as the incidents that have taken place around it, deserves attention geologically.
The Lake is approximately 400 metres below the surface of the Mediterranean. Since the deepest point in
the Lake is 400 metres, the bottom of the Lake is 800 metres below the surface of the Mediterranean.
This is the lowest point on the earth. In other areas which are lower than sea level, the depth is at most
100 metres. Another property of the Lake of Lut is that the salt content of its water is very high, the
density being nearly 30%. Because of this, no living organism, such as fish or moss, can survive in this
lake. This is why the Lake of Lut is called the Dead Sea in Western literature.

11
VOLCANIC ERUPTION

12