Beware Of Earthquakes!

Volcano is a mountain that lava comes out from a magma chamber under the ground. Volcanoes are formed by the gesture of tectonic plates. The Earth’s Crust has broken into 17 rigid tectonic plates. Volcanoes are often found where tectonic plates are coming together or moving apart. When there is enough pressure the volcano erupts. Some of the volcanic eruptions blow out from the top of the volcano. When a volcano is active, the volcanic materials come out of it. The materials are lava, steam, gaseous sulfur compounds, ash and broken rock pieces. Volcanoes are found on planets more than earth. Volcanoes which are away from plate boundaries are caused by mantle plumes. These are called as hotspots. Volcanologists are the scientists who study volcanoes using methods from geology, chemist, geography, mineralogy, sociology and physics.. The world’s biggest volcano is named as Mauna Loa in Hawaii. Mauna Loa was created by the movement of Pacific tectonic plate which moved over the Hawaii hotspot in the earth’s mantle. Mauna Loa is 4,196 meters tall and it is a shield volcano. The volcanic eruptions occur when molten rock, ash and a steam pour through vent in the earth’s crust. When pressure builds up eruption occurs magma is expelled through a vent or fissure in the earth’s surface as a volcanic eruption. Volcanism is related to two of the plate boundary types divergent and convergent margins.

Precautions to take during and after a volcano:

·         Cover your mouth and nose. Volcano ash can irritate your respiratory system.

·         Keep your skin covered.

·         Clear roofs of ash. The ash is very heavy and it may cause the building to collapse.

·         Wear goggles and protect your eyes.

·         Use dust mask or hold damp cloth over your face to help with breathing.

·         Stay away from areas downwind from the volcano to avoid ash.

·         Stay indoors until the ash has settled and there is no danger of the roof collapsing.

·         Evaluate immediately from the volcano area to avoid flying debris, hot gases, lateral blast and lava flow.

·         Be aware of mud-flows.

·         Do not cross the bridge if a mud-flow is approaching near to you.

·         Keep eye on the kids because they might be tempted to go out and see what’s going outside.

·         Stay inside until you hear that it’s safe to come out.

·         Close all windows, doors and fireplace or wood-stove dampers.

·         Listen to a local station on a portable, battery-operated radio for updated information and emergency instructions.

·         Local officials will give the most appropriate advice for your particular situation.