Volcanic Ash: Introduction

Earth is geologically active, with an average of about ten volcanoes erupting daily. Most of these events are small eruptions, but sometimes a small eruption is a precursor to a larger event. While there have been many cataclysmic eruptions in historic times, not every eruption is explosive or produces volcanic ash. Knowing what to expect from each type of eruption will help you evaluate the situation and provide better service to your customer.

Specifically, this module will help you:

• Identify the geological elements involved in volcanic eruptions
• Locate currently active volcanoes and major fault lines and plate boundaries in the world
• Describe the process of an explosive volcanic eruption
• Identify eruption types and describe their ash dispersion patterns
• List the most common volcanic hazards and the threats they pose