[ Search | Reply | Next | Previous | Up ]
From: Rod Deline
Date: 10/8/02
Time: 9:15:57 AM
Remote Name: 204.29.69.78
Volcanoes and Their Effects on the Biosphere
What is the biosphere??
The biosphere is made up of every living thing found on earth. All living organisms including animals, plants and microorganisms make up this sphere. Parts of the biosphere can be included in other spheres. For example, fish and aquatic plants can be found in our lakes, rivers, streams, and oceans. The biosphere is also known as the earth's thin zone of air, soil, and water. It is capable of supporting life. It ranges from about 6 miles into the atmosphere to the deepest ocean floor. Life that is in this zone depends on the sun's energy and on the heat and essential nutrients circulating about the earth.
What is a volcano??
A volcano refers to the opening in the earth's surface. Through volcanoes molten rock and gases are discharged. Volcanoes have several types of eruptions. These eruptions include: Hawaiian, Basaltic Flood, Strombolian, Vulcanian, Peleean, Plinian, called magma while they are still in the volcano and once the fluid reaches the surface it is called lava. However, today volcanoes can be defined as a conical hill or mountain built around a vent that connects the reservoirs of molten rock below the surface of the earth. Volcano experts have classified volcanoes into groups based on their shape, the materials of which they are composed, and the way in which they erupt. http://www2.sunysuffolk.edu http://volcano.und.edu
Where is Mt. Pinatubo?
Mt. Pinatubo is a volcano norht of Manila on the Philippine Island of Luzon. Mt. Pinatubo erupted on June 15, 1991. There was an estimated 20 million tons of sulfur dioxide and ash particles blasted more than 12 miles in the atmosphere. Thus, causing a lot of destruction and loss of life. http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/study/volcano
Event>Biosphere Interactions
E>B The most serious nearby environmental effect is the burial of either ash, mud, or lava. In many cases these materials bury the area under tens of meters. Anyone or anything caught by them would be killed. At Mt. Pinatubo the huge amount of ash deposited high on the slopes has caused way more damage to the lower areas than the orginal eruption did.
E>B Volcanoes effect people in many ways, some are good, some are not. For example, volcanoes affect people in a negative way when their houses, building, roads, and fields are covered by ash. The heavy amount of ash can cause houses to collapse. Therefore, people lose their homes due to the event. A positive way the volcanoes can help people is that it can produce very rich soils for farming. Therefore, the volcano helps farmers by providing food and income.
E>B The event of a volcano eruption can cause negative effects on livestock and other mammals. For example, lava flows, pyroclastic flows, tephra falls, atmospheric effects, gases and tsunami can kill livestock and other mammals. They can also die from famine, forest fires, and earthquakes caused by or related to the eruptions. Aquatic life can also be affected by the eruptions due to an increase in acidity, increased turbidity, change in temperature, and/or a change in food supply. These factors can damage or kill fish. Therefore, causing a problem in the food chain. Eruptions can also influence bird migration, roosting, flying ability, and feeding activity. Thus, causing a problem in the life cycle of a bird. The impact of eruptions on insects depends on the size of the eruption and the stage of growth of the insect. For example, ash is very abrasive to wings. The entire negative affects on the livestock and mammals could cause problems for humans as well. For example, the lack of livestock and mammals could put a damper on the food chain for humans. The fires that result from the eruptions could destroy all crops, vegetation and plant life in that area. Therefore, food supplies would be diminished. http://pubs.usgs.gov./gip/volc/people.html
E>B When a volcano erupts, it will literally kill any organism in its path. Dust and smoke will snuff out the air in immediate areas choking living organisms. Boiling hot liquid lava will disintegrate any being in its path. Secondary effects of a volcanic eruption on life forms would be that lava and dust would destroy habitats making it impossible for living things to survive even if they survive the initial eruption. http://volcano.und.edu
E>B Dust, smoke, ash, and debris from volcanic eruptions can cause severe secondhand effects on civilization. For example, dust from the eruption could cause different lung diseases and illnesses as well as different complications involving organisms with respiratory tracts. The different types of debris from the eruption could cause people and animals to have problems breathing, therefore, if it is not taken care of people and animals could parish.
E>B Mudflows can damage the biosphere in many ways. For instance, mudflows can occur when rain falls through clouds containing high levels of ash or when waters are dammed during an eruption. The flows could wipe out huge sections of crops, vegetation, plants, and animals. All of these sections are useful to humans in a variety of ways. Therefore, the food chain and life cycles of the biosphere would be affected. http://volcano.und.edu
E>B Volcanic eruptions have a negative effect on animals. For example, for the animals that do survive the eruption their food chain is affected. Their drinking water is contaminated from all the gases and debris. Therefore, any animal that drinks from the water source will die. The aquatic animals also suffer from this because of hte acidity in the water.
E>B Volcanic eruptions also release toxic gases. Therefore,it will have an affect on the entire biosphere. The cracks in the ground after an eruption enable gases to escape. Some of the gases that are released are carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and hydrogen. The combining of water droplets and sulfer dioxide then produces acid rain. Thus, contaminating all water supplies for animals and people. Vast amounts of carbon dioxide can also be detrimental to people and animals.
E>B A positive effect of volcanic eruptions to plants is that the ash from the eruption can provide nutrients to the surronding soil. The volcanic ash contains minerals that are very beneficial to plants. Therefore, the plants will be able to regenerate and thrive.
Sphere>Event Interactions:
B>E People use volcanic products as construction materials. Some of these materials are used as cleaning agents and as raw materials for many chemical and industrial uses. The internal heat associated with some young volcanic systems has been harnessed to produce geothermal energy.
B>E The Isle of Surtsey didn't exist until 1963. A volcano under the sea erupted causing and island covering 2.4 Km to grow. The highest point is 170m above the sea. Geologists found that in only two years' time, the island was already inhabitant by many birds, insects, and plants. http://www.oink.demon.co.uk/topics/vframes.htm