How are Volcanic Eruptions Deadly to Life on Earth?
When volcanoes erupt, they can be extremely deadly. They can be deadly during their eruption and even after they have erupted. During the eruption, hot lava pours out of the opening of the volcano and moves along throughout its surroundings. During this process, all kinds of life is affected. Plants are destroyed and inhabitants of the area are either killed or forced to move away. Even for survivors of the eruption, they continue to live in fear because the aftermath of the volcanic eruption can be just as deadly. The ashes from the volcano are blown up into the atmosphere and transported up to thousands of kilometers away. Due to its quick spread across land, volcanic ash can make it hard for animals and humans to live in that area. Volcanic ash can remain in an area for a long time and if inhaled by living organisms, it can cause widespread deaths.
Influence of Volcanoes on Life
During a volcanic eruption, plants are destroyed and animals, including humans, can be killed too. Animals can be killed by the lava flows, the gases released and from the ashes that have been ejected from the volcano; the ashes travels up to hundred of miles away from the initial eruption through the movement of the wind. An example of how deadly a volcanic eruption can be, is seen through the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption. The aftermath of this eruption was estimated to have killed 11,000 hares, 6,000 deer, 5,200 elk, 1,400 coyotes, 300 bobcats, 200 black bears, and 15 mountain lions. Although it seems only land mammals are affected, water creatures are heavily affected too. For example, the volcanic eruption can cause an increase in acidity, change in temperature and increase in turbidity within the waters. Also the fall of ash into the water environment can alone decrease the population in a given body of water.
Volcanoes and Dinosaur Extinction
Although volcanic eruptions are only a theory to why dinosaurs were killed and extinct, they are still considered one of the major roles that played a role in their extinction. There are different theories on how the volcanoes played their role in the extinction. According to historians and scientists, the ash and gases that the volcanic eruption put up into the atmosphere made the Earth's temperature either too hot or too cold for them to survive. After research it was discovered that SO2 gas may have derived from volcanic eruptions, which becomes sulfuric acid and blocks incoming sunlight. As we can see through the extinction of dinosaurs, volcanoes can be so deadly that they can extinct an entire population through a chain of events that began with the eruption of volcanoes.
Positive Volcano Effects
Although volcanoes can be extremely deadly to its surrounding environment, there are still positive outcomes from their eruptions. After a volcanic eruption cools down the lava and other material such as volcanic ash that comes out from the volcano can provide nutrients for the soil in the surrounding environment. Throughout volcanic history, volcanoes have been known to do good things to earth. For example, they can cool off the Earth by removing heat from its interior. Volcanic emissions have also produced the atmosphere and the body of waters so aside from the devastating damage they can do, volcanoes can have beneficial factors.