Volcanic Eruptions
By: Zach Boyer
Mt. Vesuvius
How a volcano affects an ecosystem.
phases of a volcano
dormant volcano
a volcanic eruption
ash field
how a volcanic eruption happens
Volcanic eruptions start due to high temperatures and pressure build up. The immense heat slowly melts rocks to create a slow moving substance called magma. The magma rises and collects in magma chambers. After a while the magma pushes through vents and fissures in the earth's surface, then a volcanic eruption occurs. When the magma comes out it then becomes lava and flows great distances and destroys nearly everything in its way, carving out a path wherever it goes. Eventually it cools down into rock, known as igneous rocks. Even then, after it forms an igneous rock, it can still be extremely hot for a couple of days. eventually a forest that stretches for miles can be reduced to a rock and ash field.
what we have done to prevent deaths
mock situation
Imagine that you are living in Naples, Italy, by Mt. Vesuvius. Earthquakes have been happening lately and the ground around Mt. Vesuvius has been deforming. The news is telling you to pack and evacuate the town. Right as you finish packing the natural disaster sirens go off. You all run to the car and drive away. the traffic is extremely rough due to everyone trying to evacuate. You make it with plenty time, it takes two days for the real eruption to happen, with the lava instead of the warning blasts that happened every hour the day that you get to a neighboring country. 2 weeks after the eruption, you go back, your house, your neighborhood and whole city’s no longer there. as you are drive by you see a family of rabbits passing through the ash fields. you step out of your car and look around, you see none of the lush green trees or vegetation is there anymore. instead there are a lot of igneous rocks, deep trenches and volcanic ash. It amazes you to know that this town, built up over thousands of years, was completely destroyed over a period slightly over a week. But don’t worry, there will be clean up crews that level out the land and then there will be travelers who build up this town again and there will be traveling of vegetation through the wind, animals and even humans planting new trees and vegetation. maybe those rabbits were carrying seeds on them (or inside of them) and the rebuilding of the forest will go faster.