Student Article
Volcanic Activity Around the Globe: Earthquakes, Eruptions, and the Threats They Pose
Eruption (noun): The act of a volcano releasing ash, lava, and gas into the atmosphere.
Tectonic plates (noun): Large pieces of Earth's crust that move and shift, causing earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Subduction zone (noun): A place where one tectonic plate is pushed beneath another.
Tsunami (noun): A huge, powerful wave caused by an underwater earthquake or volcanic eruption.
Volcanic activity around the world has been increasing, and it's causing a lot of attention.
What’s rumbling in Iceland?
In Iceland, thousands of small earthquakes are shaking the ground near Svartsengi, a geothermal power plant. Scientists are monitoring the situation closely because the earthquakes could mean that magma is rising toward the surface. If it does, it could cause an eruption that might crack the ground and affect the nearby town of Grindavik. Right now, experts aren't sure whether the magma will stay beneath the surface or erupt, but people are staying alert.
Volcanoes popping up around the world
At the same time, Mount Etna in Sicily has erupted, sending ash into the sky and causing problems for nearby towns. This is just another example of how active Mount Etna is. Other volcanoes, like those in the Philippines, Guatemala, and Indonesia are also rumbling, but they are causing minor eruptions like small explosions and lava flows. Despite the ongoing activity, these volcanoes aren't yet threatening lives on a large scale, but evacuation plans are in place in case things get worse.
How do volcanoes erupt anyway?
Volcanoes erupt when magma from the Earth's mantle moves upward, either breaking through vents or cracks in the Earth's surface. The rising magma can create explosive eruptions or, in some cases, the magma may cool before it reaches the surface. Iceland is particularly active because it sits on a boundary between two tectonic plates, which are slowly moving apart, allowing magma to rise. In other places, like subduction zones, one tectonic plate slides beneath another, creating more explosive eruptions.
What happened in the past?
Some of the volcanoes that are rumbling right now have had more destructive eruptions in the past. Krakatau caused a huge tsunami in 1883, and Nevado del Ruiz killed thousands of people in 1985.
Should we be worried?
People in high-risk areas are preparing for possible eruptions, and scientists are keeping a close watch.
© Bill McGuire / Our Media
Eruption (noun): The act of a volcano releasing ash, lava, and gas into the atmosphere.
Tectonic plates (noun): Large pieces of Earth's crust that move and shift, causing earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Subduction zone (noun): A place where one tectonic plate is pushed beneath another.
Tsunami (noun): A huge, powerful wave caused by an underwater earthquake or volcanic eruption.