VOLCANIC ASH 1

Volcanic Ash 1

Volcanic ash is a volcanic rock which is exploded from a vent in fragments less than 2mm in size. Volcanic ash-particles are like small sharp glass-particles that damage anything they come across. Because volcanic ash can fall on many things it's very harmful to the environment around the volcano. During heavy ash-rains houses and buildings may collapse, people and animals may die by lack of oxygen.

Ash clouds may provide big problems for aviation. When airplanes fly through an eruption cloud a range of damage may occur depending on the concentration of volcanic ash, gas aerosols in the cloud and the actions taken by the pilot to exit the eruption cloud.
volcanic-ash.

Volcanic Ash

Volcanic Ash

Volcanic ash consists of small tephra, which are bits of pulverized rock and glass created by volcanic eruptions less than 2 millimetres (0.1 in) in diameter.

There are 3 mechanisms of volcanic ash formation:

• gas release under decompression causing magmatic eruptions;
• thermal contraction from chilling on contact with water causing phreatomagmatic eruptions,
• ejection of entrained particles during steam eruptions causing phreatic eruptions.

The violent nature of volcanic eruptions involving steam results in the magma and solid rock surrounding the vent being torn into particles of clay to sand size. Volcanic ash can lead to breathing problems and malfunctions in machinery, and clouds of it can threaten aircraft and alter weather patterns.

Ash deposited on the ground after an eruption is known as ashfall deposit. Significant accumulations of ashfall can lead to the immediate destruction of most of the local ecosystem, as well the collapse of roofs on man-made structures. Over time, ashfall can lead to the creation of fertile soils. Ashfall can also become cemented together to form a solid rock called tuff. Over geologic time, the ejection of large quantities of ash can produce an ash cone.