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a vent in the earth's crust throu gh which lava, steam, ashes, etc., are expelled, either continuously or at irregular intervals.
Volcanic eruption:
the sudden occurrence of a
violent discharge of steam and volcanic material
AS FOR ITS RESIDENTS WITNESSED ONE KNOWNNEARBY EXOTIC SPICES,THIS PART OF OF THE LARGEST EXPLOSIONS EVER RECORDED WORLD IS ABOUT TO BECOME FAMOUS FOR A VERY DIFFERENT REASON..
Unstable islands
The krakatoa islands sit above a volcanic hotspot on the pacific ring of fire. They may be remnants of a massive volcano that erupted and collapsed in ancient times, creating a giant water filled crater called a caldera
Eruption of krakatoa:
Location:
volcanic island located in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Sumatra and Java in Indonesia. This island is adjacent to two other islands, Verlaten and Lang.
Eruptions
The biggest explosion of Krakatau occurred on August 26 and 27, 1883. Before the eruption the island was about 18 sq. miles. After the eruption the island was only 6 sq. miles. The eruption caused an earthquake which created tsunamis that reached more than 115 feet high and traveled some 8000 miles. The waves killed about 36,000 people on the nearby islands of Java and Sumatra, and destroyed 295 costal towns. The explosions produced some of the loudest noises in history.
BEFORE
AFTER
Sailors on ships in nearby sea lanes reported astounding events associated with the volcanic eruption. The sound was loud enough to break the eardrums of some crewmen on ships many miles away. And pumice, or chunks of solidified lava, rained from the sky, pelting the ocean and the decks of ships. The tsunamis set off by the volcanic eruption rose as high as 120 feet, and slammed into the coastlines of the inhabited islands of Java and Sumatra. Entire settlements were wiped away, and it is estimated that 36,000 people died.
The sound of the massive volcanic eruption traveled enormous distances across the ocean. At the British outpost on Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean more than 2,000 miles from Krakatoa, the sound was clearly heard. People in Australia also reported hearing the explosion. It is likely that Krakatoa created the loudest sound on earth. Pieces of pumice were light enough to float, and weeks after the eruption large pieces began drifting in with the tides along the coast of Madagascar, an island off the east coast of Africa. Some of the large pieces of volcanic rock had animal and human skeletons embedded in them.
In the year following the eruption, average global temperatures fell by as much as 1.2 C (2.2 F). Weather patterns continued to be chaotic for years, and temperatures did not return to normal until 1888. The eruption injected an unusually large amount of sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas high into the stratosphere which was subsequently transported by highlevel winds all over the planet. This led to a global increase insulfurous acid (H2SO3) concentration in high-level cirrus clouds. The resulting increase in cloud reflectivity (or albedo) would reflect more incoming light from the sun than usual, and cool the entire planet until the suspended sulfur fell to the ground as acid precipitation.
warning systems and of disasters that can come from volcanoes (earthquakes, flooding, landslides, mudflows, thunderstorms, tsunamis) Make evacuation plans to higher ground with a backup route Get a pair of goggles and a throw-away breathing mask for each member of the household teach children how Have disaster supplies on hand (flashlight, extra batteries, portable batteryoperated radio, first aid kit, emergency food and water, nonelectric can opener, cash and credit cards, and sturdy shoes) Develop an emergency communications plan in case of separation during the earthquake Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as
authorities Avoid areas downwind of the volcano If indoors: Close all windows, doors, and dampers Put all machinery inside a garage or barn Bring animals and livestock into closed shelters If outdoors: Seek shelter immediately If caught in a rockfall, roll into a ball to protect head Avoid low-lying areas where poisonous gases can collect and floods can be dangerous If caught near a stream beware of mudflows. Wear long sleeved shirts and pants Use goggles to protect eyes and a dustmask or damp cloth over face to help breathing Keep car engines turned off Stay out of the area. Mudflows can occur when rain falls through ash- carrying clouds or when