Why do volcanoes erupt so much? Are they very dangerous?
Gavin & Felise
Dear Gavin and Felise,
Volcanoes erupt so much because it is still very hot inside the earth.
The heat was produced when the Earth formed 4.5 billion years ago. It
still hot because rock layers are excellent insulators (they keep the
heat inside). Volcanoes are the main way that the Earth releases heat.
(Think about unzipping your winter coat to let some of your heat out).
Volcanoes can be very dangerous and have killed many people in the last
century. People live near volcanoes because they are beautiful, good for
agriculture, or the only land available. Some volcanoes are not
monitored, so volcanologists will not be able to warn people as an
eruption becomes more and more likely.
Thank you for your question.
Steve Mattox, University of North Dakota
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