Public experience

Climate changes- volcanic activity

Volcanoes are unstable weak points in the Earth’s upper layer of rock. They form when chambers of magma boil to the surface. It takes a lot of heat and pressure to force molten rock to the surface, which means an eruption can take thousands of years to develop. When the volcano can no longer contain the pressure, it bursts open, sending billows of toxic fumes into the air and lava onto the surface. The smallest eruptions are negligible, but the greatest ones cause widespread damage. Volcanic eruptions are often discussed in relation to climate change because they release CO2 (and other gases) into our atmosphere.