Why is volcanic ash particularly harmful to humans and their property?

Answer 1

Volcanic ash can remain floating in the air for days. An ash cloud could potentially block out the sun over an area for quite some time. With no sun, plants die. With no plants, things that eat plants die. Then the things that eat those things die, and so on. Plants can also be killed by toxic components of the ash enterting the soil. Also, if inhaled, volcanic ash can cause respiratory disease, such as pneumonoultramicrosopicsilicovolcanoconiosis (caused by microscopic bits of volcanic ash finding its way into the lungs) and other complications.

Answer 2

Every green plant on Earth depends on sunlight to survive. Without sunlight, plants cannot generate oxygen though a process called photosynthesis, and without that oxygen output, life as we know it would suffer greatly.

An ash fall would cover the leaves of every plant in the region, effectively cutting off most of the sunlight to the plant. Without sunlight, the plant will die, along with many other plants, reducing the oxygen output and destroying food sources.

Ash falls can also "kill" machinery by clogging air intakes on internal combustion engines, clogging delicate machinery, and corroding meals.

In short, reduced oxygen, reduced food supplies, and limited mobility are just the short-term effects.

Answer 3

Volcanic ash can be dangerous in a number of ways. Near the volcano the ash can still be hot enough to start fires and kill people. Even when cooled, the ash is very harmful when inhaled and the weight of it can cause roofs to collapse. It can damage airplanes and cause jet engines to fail in flight. When mixed with water the ash can form deadly mudflows called lahars that can bury entire towns. Many eruptions produce extremely hot avalanche-like clouds called pyroclastic flows. These flows can race down the slopes of a volcano. The few people who have survived these flows suffered horrific burns.

Answer 4

Ash from volcanoes poses a number of risks. It can cause asphyxiation if it is inhaled. It is also quite dense, especially if it gets soaked by rain, and the weight of it can cause roofs to collapse. Falling ash can also remain quite hot, even at considerable distances from the volcano. Airborne ash can damage planes in flight and cause jet engines to fail, potentially leading to plane crashes. If ash mixes with water it can form mudflows called lahars that can bury entire towns in minutes. The most dangerous thing a volcano can produce is the pyroclastic flow, a hot, fast-moving mass of ash, rock and gas. These flows move down the slopes of a volcano at more than 100 miles per hour, scorching everything in their path.

Answer 5

Volcanic ash consists of tiny pieces of glass. When inhaled it can damage the lungs and mix with the moisture to form a kind of cement inside the lungs, leading to a very painful death. The ash is also quite dense, so roofs can collapse if ashfall accumulates. The ash can also clog car and plane engines and short out electrical systems. Some components of ash may be toxic.

Answer 6

Because the ash can block the sun for days over thousands of square kilometers. Volcanic ash can blow down trees and buildings and can blanket nearby towns with a fine powder.

Answer 7

It is helpful and destructive. Helpful! Yes it fertilizes our plants and for being destructive it can collapse roofs, suffacation, and block out our clean air for years. Hope this helps.