How do volcanoes produce so much ash in explosive eruptions?
Quick Answer
Explosive eruptions fragment magma into tiny pieces when dissolved gases expand violently. The result is fine ash, not the soft ash from a fire.
The Full Story
Volcanic ash is made of tiny fragments of rock, minerals, and volcanic glass, usually less than 2 millimeters across. During an explosive eruption, pressure drops as magma rises, gases expand rapidly, and the magma shatters into many small particles. Ash can rise high into the atmosphere and spread far from the volcano in the wind. It is dangerous because it can damage lungs, engines, crops, and water supplies. Ashfall from eruptions such as Mount St. Helens in 1980 showed how widespread its effects can be.
Key Facts
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