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Volcanic Gases
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Sulfur dioxide gas creates
air pollution in Hawai'i
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Carbon
dioxide gas kills trees in California |
Deep
beneath the earth’s surface, volcanic
gases dissolve into the molten rock of a volcano.
These gases are released into the air, even when
a volcano is not erupting, by escaping through
volcanic vents. During an eruption, the gases held
in magma begin to form tiny bubbles. As the magma
moves upwards and the gas comes to the surface,
the gas bubbles expand and can create a magma foam.
It is the pressure from the expanding gas that
is the main force in an explosive eruption.
During an explosive eruption, volcanic gases can
rise miles into the Earth’s atmosphere. The
wind may blow the cloud, which contains tiny acid
droplets, hundreds of miles away.
There are many types of gases that are released
into the air from a volcano, including water (H2O)
and carbon dioxide (CO2). Carbon dioxide gas is
heavier than air, so when it gets into the air,
it can flow into low-lying areas. If person or
animal in a low area breathes too much carbon dioxide,
they can quickly become unconscious and even die.
Large amounts of carbon dioxide gas can mix with
soil and can kill plants as well.
Sulfur dioxide is also released, and can lead
to acid rain and pollution. Sulfur dioxide has
a strong odor, and can cause health problems when
it irritates the skin, eyes, nose and throat. It
also reacts with sunlight and oxygen to cause volcanic
smog, which is called vog.
There are other gases that are released during
a volcanic eruption that can irritate the skin
and harm the respiratory (breathing) system. Some
of these gases also harm the Earth’s ozone
layer, or fall back to the Earth in the form of
acid rain.
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