8.3 Notes8.3 NotesEffects of Effects of Volcanic Volcanic EruptionsEruptions

• Key ConceptKey Concept: The effects : The effects of volcanic eruptions can of volcanic eruptions can change human and change human and wildlife habitats.wildlife habitats.

Did you know that a volcanic Did you know that a volcanic eruption can have both negative eruption can have both negative andand positive effects? positive effects? What do you think are some What do you think are some positive effects?positive effects?What do you think are some What do you think are some negative effects?negative effects?

What happens to the habitat What happens to the habitat (environment) immediately after an (environment) immediately after an eruption?eruption?

It is destroyed. It dies. It is burnt.It is destroyed. It dies. It is burnt.

What happens to the habitat 2-3 What happens to the habitat 2-3 years after an eruption?years after an eruption?

It re-grows.It re-grows.

Negative EffectsNegative Effects After a large volcanic eruption, ash and After a large volcanic eruption, ash and

gases can spread around the globe gases can spread around the globe lowering temperatures as much as 4 lowering temperatures as much as 4 degrees for several years. This degrees for several years. This temperature decrease for such a long time temperature decrease for such a long time can cause crop failures and starvation. can cause crop failures and starvation. This can lead to many deaths.This can lead to many deaths.

Volcanic eruptions can kill people and Volcanic eruptions can kill people and devastate wildlife habitats. It can also devastate wildlife habitats. It can also knock down trees and destroy buildings.knock down trees and destroy buildings.

The pyroclastic flow can burn everything in The pyroclastic flow can burn everything in its path.its path.

The volcanic material can melt snowcaps The volcanic material can melt snowcaps on mountains causing floods.on mountains causing floods.

Volcanic ash can cause respiratory Volcanic ash can cause respiratory problems for humans when they breath it problems for humans when they breath it in.in.

Large volcanic eruptions can effect the Large volcanic eruptions can effect the globes climate for several years.globes climate for several years.

Benefits of Volcanic Benefits of Volcanic EruptionsEruptions

Volcanic eruptions can produce fertile soil Volcanic eruptions can produce fertile soil excellent for farming.excellent for farming.

Volcanic eruptions can produce Volcanic eruptions can produce geothermal energy – a renewable energy geothermal energy – a renewable energy that can be used to drive turbines to heat that can be used to drive turbines to heat homes, grow crops, and keep roads free homes, grow crops, and keep roads free of ice.of ice.

Volcanic rock can be used in construction. Volcanic rock can be used in construction. It can be mixed with wet lime to make It can be mixed with wet lime to make concrete (the Romans used to do this) concrete (the Romans used to do this) (the U.S. does this to create dams)(the U.S. does this to create dams)

Roads and bridges are also created from Roads and bridges are also created from volcanic material.volcanic material.

Volcanic ash absorbs moisture and so it is Volcanic ash absorbs moisture and so it is used in cat litter.used in cat litter.

Pumice (volcanic material) is used in Pumice (volcanic material) is used in facial scrubs, soaps, cleaners, and facial scrubs, soaps, cleaners, and polishes.polishes.

Pumice is also used to filter waterPumice is also used to filter water