How does volcanoes help us?

Answer 1

Volcanoes have a wide range of impacts.

They go from negative impact like the destruction of cities & environment. This not only due to lava but also because of earthquakes, mud flows, tidal waves etc. caused by the eruption.

A huge eruption (unseen so far by men) can possibly change the worlds climate, even bringing the Earth into another ice age. The ashes will block the sunlight from reaching the earth, resulting in an almost global ice age.

Volcanoes however also have positive impacts. The lava when it cools down turns into very fertile soil due to the many igneous rocks who are rich in potassium, which is one of the "big three" macro nutrients plants require (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium). Similarly, they are frequently rich in iron, which is a limiting plant nutrient in many areas. Lastly, igneous rocks *can* be quite porous on the large scale, allowing them to trap substantial quantities of water as they weather. The surface may have little organic debris for several hundred or thousand years, which allows for lots of water to enter the subsurface and not be lost to evaporation.

Another positive impact may be that volcanoes attract tourism.

Of course there are a lot of impacts volcanoes can make. This list does not include them all.

Answer 2

The deadly smoke and gasses can choke us. Also, the magma can burn people living near it. Lahars, a.k.a. mud slides can harm us also, along with cold temperatures due to the sun being blocked by gasses.

Answer 3

Without volcanoes there would be no rain, no clouds, no minerals in the air, no air, no life. by Phillip Craparotta

Answer 4

it builds islands for us