Volcanoes Facts for Kids
Explosive facts about volcanoes and geology
Mount Erebus in Antarctica is the southernmost active volcano on Earth. It has a permanent lake of molten lava inside its summit crater.
When major volcanic eruptions inject sulphur dioxide into the stratosphere, it forms tiny aerosol particles that reflect sunlight back into space, temporarily cooling global temperatures by up to 0.5 degrees Celsius.
Some volcanic craters fill with rainwater and become beautiful lakes. Crater Lake in Oregon, USA, was formed when a volcano collapsed about 7,700 years ago and is one of the deepest lakes in the world.
When strong winds catch droplets of molten lava and stretch them into thin, golden threads, the result is called Pele's hair, named after the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes.
Large igneous provinces β massive outpourings of lava over millions of years β have been linked to several mass extinctions. The Siberian Traps eruption 252 million years ago is thought to have caused the deadliest extinction event in Earth's history.
Slow-moving lava flows can set entire forests on fire and destroy buildings, but because they usually move at walking pace, people can often get out of the way safely.
Scientists use satellites to monitor volcanoes from space. They can detect ground deformation, gas emissions, and thermal changes that may signal an approaching eruption, even in remote locations.
Basalt is the most common type of volcanic rock on Earth. It forms from fast-cooling lava and makes up most of the ocean floor.
A supervolcanic eruption could inject so much material into the atmosphere that it would block sunlight for years, potentially causing widespread crop failures and what scientists call a 'volcanic winter'.
Volcanic ash is not soft like fireplace ash. It is made of tiny, sharp fragments of rock and glass that can be very dangerous to breathe in.