Report By Kristy

Watch Out! There's lava flowing down that volcano and gas is sprouting from it's mouth! Better hurry up and run because the lava is going to destroy everything in it's way! One volcano had already buried two towns because people thought it was dormant! Read on to find out more information on volcanoes.

Causes

A volcano is a hill or mountain formed by the accumulation of materials erupted through one or more openings in the earth's surface.

Types or Categories

Composite volcanoes are made alternating layers of lava flows. Mount Fuji, Mount Rainier, Mount Hood, Mount Shasta are composite volcanoes.

Locations

Volcanoes are mostly at the edge of countries. Some are in the oceans or on islands. Olympus Mons on Mars is more than 20 times the size of earth's largest volcano, Mauna Loa.

Frequency

At every moment, a volcano is erupting all over the world. There are about 500 active volcanoes on land. Every year, about 50 of these volcanoes erupt. 

Damage

The danger is mostly fast-moving lava, falling ash and volcanic debris flows. The most famous volcano eruption of all time was in A.D.0079. Mount Vesuvius in Italy suddenly erupted. It buried the towns of Pompeii and Herculanium. 

Warning Signs

Scientist are trying to predict eruptions that lead up to possible activity, such as earthquakes, ground movement and the release of gases.

Prediction and Notification Systems

The largest blocking to improve eruption prediction is only a tiny fraction, over  500 active volcanoes in the world are monitored by modern instruments and well-trained volcanologists.



Even though volcanoes are dangerous (because of their wild debris flows), I would live by a volcano because lava can help the soil become good to grow crops. I wouldn't live by an earthquake because if buildings fell down, they might fall on people, though, volcanoes you can run away.

SOURCES