Volcanoes and People
When people think of volcanoes, visions of blazing eruptions spewing molten lava thousands of feet into the air, causing injury, death, and massive destruction, usually come to mind. What we don't usually think about is how people and volcanoes have been closely associated for thousands of years. People often settle and live near volcanoes because of the benefits that they offer, including rich soils for farming, useful minerals, and hot springs.
In this project we will explore how volcanoes affect the people who live near them; and how people effect the volcanoes. Along with describing the topic.
Before we go any further we must understand what a volcano is and what it does. The exact definition in the dictionary says it is a mountain with a hole through which lava, ashes, smoke, etc., are discharged. More specifically a volcano is a vent in the Earth from which molten rock (magma) and gas erupt.
English: Astronaut photo of ash cloud from Mount C...
English: A volcanic vent and lava flows from vario...
An early stage of the July 12, 2009 eruption of Sa...The molten rock that erupts from the volcano forms a hill or mountain around the vent. All the eruptions differ from one another. Gases from within the earth's interior mix with huge quantities of dust and ash and rise into the air as great dark clouds that can be seen from many kilometers away. Explosive eruptions are caused when lava in the vents hardens into rock. Steam and lava build up under the rocks. When the pressure of the steam and new lave becomes great, a violent explosion occurs.
In order to indicate the relative activity of volcanoes, scientists classify them as active, dominant, or extinct. An active volcano is one that erupts either continually or periodically. A volcano that has been known to erupt within modern times but is now inactive is classified as a dormant or sleeping volcano. A volcano not known...