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Take a bottle of soda. Shake it really hard. Gas bubbles will form inside, causing a buildup of pressure. Twist the cap off. Pressure will release from the bottle. Soda will shoot everywhere.

A volcanic eruption works much the same way. Pressure builds up inside a volcano as gas bubbles form in magma. Magma is hot liquid rock beneath the surface of the Earth. Gas bubbles in the volcano need to escape. So the volcano erupts. Boom!

A volcano is a mountain or hill with an opening. When a volcano erupts, magma is pushed up through the opening with great force. When magma reaches the Earth's surface, it is called lava. Lava can be as hot as 2,200°F (1,204°C).

Some volcanic eruptions are explosive. Lava shoots into the sky. Gas and hot pieces of rock and ash are also released. Other eruptions are effusive × effusive LEOPATRIZI/GETTY IMAGES overflowing (adjective) My effusive friend is enthusiastic about everything she does. . Lava oozes slowly from the volcano.

The intensity of an eruption depends on a few factors. One is the magma's temperature. Another is the magma's thickness. The amount of gas trapped within the magma is also an important factor.

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The Ring of Fire

About 75% of the Earth's volcanoes are located in a region called the Ring of Fire. This 25,000-mile "ring' is located around the Pacific Ocean. It runs from the southern tip of South America and up the west coast of North America. It continues across the Bering Strait and then south through Japan to New Zealand.

The ring sits along the outline of several tectonic plates. Tectonic plates are the large puzzle pieces that make up the Earth's crust. The crust is Earth's outer layer. Most volcanoes form at the edges of tectonic plates. These huge plates are constantly shifting. Sometimes, the plates pull apart or slide into each other. When this happens, magma rises to fill in the space. Strong pressure and intense heat force the magma upward. It squeezes upward like toothpaste through a tube.

Heating Up

Volcanoes can be dangerous-especially to the millions of people around the world who live near one. When a volcano erupts, lava, hot ash, steam, and rocks are released. In addition, volcanic eruptions can cause other natural disasters. These include landslides, mudslides, earthquakes, and tsunamis.

The most destructive volcanic event in U.S. history occurred in 1980. That is when Mount Saint Helens, in Washington State, erupted. The eruption destroyed entire forests. It killed 57 people. Mount Saint Helens is located within the Ring of Fire. It is a composite volcano, or stratovolcano. This is the most common type of volcano. It is tall and cone-shaped. A composite volcano is made up of layers of rock and ash. Its eruptions are often violent.

Another historically important volcanic event occurred in 79 A.D. in Italy. That is when Mount Vesuvius erupted. It buried the city of Pompeii in lava and ash. The city and its people were lost. Centuries later, scientists discovered their remains.

Volcanoes can be destructive. But they can also create new land. The Hawaiian Islands were created by the eruptions of shield volcanoes. These large, low-lying volcanoes are made up almost entirely of layers of hardened lava.

Another type of volcano is the cinder cone. These shoot lava into the air like a sputtering fountain. A cinder cone eruption often comes from a single volcanic vent in the Earth's crust. Lava cools quickly in the air. It hardens into glassy rocks around the volcano's opening. One example of a cinder cone volcano is Sunset Crater, in Arizona.

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A Powerful Force

Volcanoes have played an important role in shaping our Earth. Ash from volcanoes adds helpful minerals to soil. This helps plants grow strong. Healthy plants produce oxygen for humans and animals to breathe. Volcanoes also remove heat from the Earth's interior. This helps keep our planet cool.

In recent years, a new benefit of volcanoes has surfaced. Scientists are turning to volcanoes to help power cities. Researchers are exploring geothermal energy. It involves tapping into the heat beneath the Earth's surface to generate electricity. In Iceland, 25% of the nation's energy is geothermal.

Volcanoes may be unpredictable. But as we learn more about how they work, they will become even more important to life on Earth.

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Take a bottle of soda. Shake it really hard. Gas bubbles will form inside, causing a buildup of pressure. Twist the cap off. Pressure will release from the bottle. Soda will shoot everywhere. A volcanic eruption works much the same...

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VIDEO: Earthquakes and Tsunamis for Kids

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VIDEO: Earthquakes and Tsunamis for Kids

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Earthquakes and Tsunamis for Kids | A fun engaging introduction to Earthquakes and Tsunamis for Kids

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Every region of the Golden State holds earthquake risk. Most of us live within 30 miles of an active fault. Earthquakes can cause landslides, turn soil to liquid, and shake houses off their foundations.

The 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes that hit Southern California were felt as far away as Sacramento, Las Vegas and Arizona. It is easy to forget that California is earthquake country because the magnitude 6.4 and 7.1 quakes were the largest to strike in twenty years. But we live in earthquake country-and it's a matter of when, not if, the next damaging earthquake will strike.

Prepare today for your family's safety and recovery from a devastating earthquake. Find out ways to survive an earthquake.
See Your Local Earthquake Risk
how do you survive an earthquake?

An earthquake is a sudden, rapid shaking of the earth caused by the shifting of rock beneath the earth's surface. Earthquakes strike without warning, at any time of year, day or night.

Follow these earthquake survival tips before the next big one:

Create an earthquake safety plan. Discuss with your family what to do, where to meet if separated, and how you will communicate when an earthquake strikes. Check work, childcare and school emergency plans.

Practice DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON with all members of your household.

Don't rely on doorways for protection. During an earthquake, get under a table or desk. Hold on until shaking stops.

Pick safe places in each room of your home.

Create an emergency survival kit that provides you and your pets with three days of nonperishable food and water, medicines, emergency radio and first aid materials. Keep in a reachable place.

Identify an out-of-the-area friend or relative that family members can check in with by texting.

Know What to do Before an Earthquake

The key to being safe during an earthquake is preparation. Top earthquake survival tips at home include:

1. Create an earthquake safety plan for you and loved ones, including pets.

2. Identify safe places in each room of your home.

3. Practice drop, cover, and hold on with each member of your household.

4. Make or purchase an earthquake safety kit. Make sure to have water and snacks available in each room of your home.

5. Find out if your home is in need of earthquake retrofitting and eligible for a grant.

6. Identify and fix potential earthquake hazards in your home.

7. Protect your home investment and bounce back from a devastating earthquake with the best choices of earthquake insurance from CEA. Whether you are a homeowner, mobilehome owner, condo-unit owner or renter, buy peace of mind with affordable and flexible earthquake insurance now.

Prepare your home BEFORE an earthquake. Decrease your risk of damage and injury from an earthquake by identifying possible home hazards.

A seismic retrofit involves strengthening your home's foundation to make it more resistant to shaking. CEA offers earthquake home insurance premium discounts for houses and mobilehomes that have been properly retrofitted. Find out about grants to help for retrofits under the Earthquake Brace + Bolt Program, and the CEA Brace + Bolt program.
Learn about Brace + Bolt Grants
Know What to do During an Earthquake

When a major earthquake strikes near you, you may get a warning of 10 or 15 seconds, which isn't very much time. Be prepared with emergency plans and supplies. Sign up for the MyShake app today.

Remember earthquake survival tips to Drop, Cover, and Hold On.

Drop to the ground. Grab your emergency kit.

Cover. Get under your dining room table or desk. If there isn't a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.

Hold On. Stay inside and in place until shaking stops. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave.

The things you do before the quake may have the largest impact on your actual survival.

If you're outside get away from buildings which can collapse. Stay in an open area like a field where there are no trees, buildings or power lines.

If you're driving when an earthquake strikes, pull over to a large open area that's not under trees or power lines. Stay in the vehicle. Don't drive during an earthquake as roads and bridges can buckle.

If you're at school, work or any area with an elevator, and the shaking has stopped, when you leave don't take the elevator. Take the stairs.

It's not enough to be prepared physically when the ground shakes. It's also important to be financially prepared. Find an affordable earthquake insurance policy to protect you when the big one hits.

Know What to do After an Earthquake

Imagine you and your family have survived a major earthquake. Remember many injuries occur after an earthquake. Aftershocks-following large quakes-can cause damage in their own right. Follow this list of earthquake survival tips at home:

Check yourself and others for injuries. Provide first aid for anyone who needs it.

Call 9-1-1 for seriously injured people.

Listen to the radio for important information and instructions.

Check water, gas, and electric lines for damage.

If you smell gas, open all the windows and doors, leave immediately, and report it to the authorities.

Check for cracks and damage to the roof and foundation of your home.

Be careful around broken glass and debris.

Stay away from beaches, in case of tsunamis.

Do not enter damaged buildings and areas.

Take pictures of the damage, both to your house and its contents, for insurance claims.

Avoid smoking inside buildings.

When entering buildings, use extreme caution.

Expect aftershocks. Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On during aftershocks.

Avoid driving to keep the streets clear for emergency vehicles.

Be aware that items may fall out of cupboards or closets when a door is opened.

Chimneys can be weakened and fall easily. Do not walk under them.

is your house at risk of earthquake damage?

Millions of Californians face earthquake danger based on the location of their homes. California is earthquake country with nearly 16,000 known faults and more than 500 active faults. Most of us live within 30 miles of an active fault risk.

Find out about faults in your area by visiting the CEA risk map for each county. This information will help you survive an earthquake.

Then learn about your home's structural risks, to see the steps you can take to seismically strengthen your house and to learn the benefits of retrofitting. Make your home more resistant to earthquake damage by assessing its structure, contents and need for loss of use and other earthquake insurance coverages.

Earthquake safety preparation requires your understanding of the potential structural threats to your home in case of an earthquake. Avoid financial disaster with CEA's loss of use coverage if your house sufferers extensive damage with CEA affordable earthquake insurance policies.

do you need earthquake insurance?

How will your family survive a major earthquake and protect the financial investment in your home if you experience earthquake damage? Without earthquake insurance, you place yourself at risk of losing everything or sustaining damages to your personal property that you cannot afford to repair.

Imagine:

Having to pay your mortgage for a house that you cannot afford to rebuild.

Footing the bill for temporary accommodations.

Trying you get life back in shape after an earthquake all on your own.

CEA earthquake insurance not only helps repair damages. Loss of use coverage covers the costs of temporary shelter and additional living expenses so that families can get back on their feet quicker.

It's not enough to be prepared physically when the ground shakes. It's also important to be financially prepared. Find an affordable earthquake insurance policy to protect you when the big one hits.

Earthquake Insurance Premium Discounts

Strengthening your home's foundation will make it more resistant to shaking. CEA offers earthquake home insurance premium discounts for houses and mobilehomes that have been properly retrofitted. Find out about grants to help pay for retrofits under the Earthquake Brace + Bolt program, and the CEA Brace + Bolt program.

For more information about foundation anchors, including which method to use, visit Earthquake Brace + Bolt.

get a free earthquake insurance estimate!

CEA offers the best choice of California earthquake insurance policies, select deductibles from 5%-25%.

We've made earthquake insurance easy to buy. Contact your home insurance agent to discuss adding a separate earthquake policy to your home or renter's insurance.

Add the coverage today, no need to wait until your home policy comes up for renewal.

CEA works with 25 residential insurance companies that serve the majority of California homeowners.
Get Your Free Earthquake Insurance Estimate
Sources Consulted: Back to All Blog Posts

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Every region of the Golden State holds earthquake risk. Most of us live within 30 miles of an active fault. Earthquakes can cause landslides, turn soil to liquid, and shake houses off their foundations. The 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes that hit Southern California were felt as far away as Sacramento, Las Vegas and Arizona.

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National Geographic: Volcano Safety Tips

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National Geographic: Volcano Safety Tips

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Millions of people around the world live near one of the roughly 1,500 active volcanoes on Earth-from Italy's Campi Flegrei to Indonesia's Merapi to the United States' Mount Rainier. While that may seem crazy to some, there's a myriad of reasons why people call these volcanic landscapes home.

Fertile soils frequently blanket their slopes thanks to the slow breakdown of ancient volcanic rocks, which releases a host of nutrients vital for healthy crops and vineyards that produce flavorful grapes. Volcanoes also have deep roots in the history of civilizations, leading to their starring role in the spirituality and mythos of many cultures. And they spark the imagination, drawing numerous visitors to their flanks who feed a profitable industry in tourism. ( See dramatic photos of volcanoes around the world.)

Yet their fiery fits can be as dangerous as they are mesmerizing, sending rivers of molten rock and avalanches of searing ash and gas barreling down their sloping sides. So if you live near one of these mighty features-or plan to visit one on your next trip-here's some hazards to be aware of and steps you can take to stay safe during an eruption.

What are some eruption hazards?

Volcanoes pose an ever-shifting array of dangers, and each volcano is different. Some explode with fearsome force, like the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. Other volcanoes send streams of lava flowing down their flanks, like what happened during Kilauea's 2018 eruption. And these dangers can spark many other issues including fires and flows of debris. The following are some of the many hazards volcanoes can pose:

Lava flows: These rivers of molten rock are extremely hot. While their exact temperature depends on their chemistry, lava flows can exceed a searing 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit-hot enough to melt copper. The temperature and chemistry also play into the lava's viscosity, which controls how fast it flows. While some can be readily out-walked, others rush surprisingly quickly. When Kilauea erupted in 2018, it was oozing lava near the vent at a rate of 15 miles per hour, faster than the vast majority of people can run.

Volcanic projectiles: These bits of searing hot rock are flung from active vents or volcanic craters. If they're larger than 2.5 inches across, they're dubbed lava bombs. While claims of refrigerator-sized lava bombs during Kilauea's 2018 eruption were overblown, these blazing blocks can be up to several yards across. And at sizzling hot temperatures, even small volcanic projectiles can be dangerous, setting fires, breaking bones, and melting human flesh.

Pyroclastic flows: Blistering-hot avalanches of gasses, rocks, and volcanic ash can barrel down a volcano's slopes, burying structures, sparking fires, and destroying everything in their path. They are extremely speedy, with some rushing as fast as 450 miles per hour. Pyroclastic flows can even travel uphill or cross water. Volcanoes that produce such flows are extremely dangerous. For example, pyroclastic flows abounded during the infamous eruption of Mount Vesuvious in 79 A.D. that devastated the city of Pompeii, Italy. ( Read about how Vesuvious may have killed its victims.)

Lahars or debris flows: This term describes a hot or cold slurry of water and rock fragments that rushes down a volcano's slopes like "rivers of concrete," according to the USGS. These often follow valleys or river channels and can move startlingly fast. While a lahar may start small, it can grow as it travels, carrying along any debris it encounters.

Toxic gases: Volcanoes also release toxic gasses, such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen chloride. Some of these, like sulfur dioxide, are extremely corrosive and can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory systems of hapless onlookers. In rare cases, the gasses can be deadly: A surge of carbon dioxide poured out of Africa's volcanic Lake Nyos in 1986, sweeping a nearby village and suffocating hundreds of people and cattle.

Volcanic ash: Unlike the fluffy bits that linger after a camp fire, volcanic ash is made up of tiny fragments of rock and shards of glass. It's damaging to lungs and can form a hefty blanket over nearby towns-even collapsing roofs of some structures. Ash can also shoot miles high into the sky and rain down for many miles around, posing a hazard for people quite far from an active volcano. ( Learn about how lightning can help signal the start of potentially dangerous eruptions of farflung volcanoes.)

What to do before an eruption?

Unlike earthquakes, volcanoes rouse from sleep with some notice-shaking the ground, bulging their flanks, or shifting the gases wafting from their craters and vents. And for many volcanoes near populations, scientists closely watch their every move, which allows them to better understand when they might burst to life.

So if you live near a volcano, or plan to visit one, familiarize yourself with the local monitoring agencies. Understand where you can safely tromp and where you need to steer clear, regions known as exclusion zones. It's also important to look up evacuation routes and hazards specific to your location.

Some places offer regular updates of volcanic activity. For example, the U.S. Geological Survey's Volcano Notification Service emails information about monitored volcanoes in the United States, which boasts more than 10 percent of the planet's active or potentially active volcanoes.

Another vital preparation step is assembling an emergency kit that includes supplies like food, water, respiratory protection, eye protection, and a battery-powered radio. When preparing your kit, consider each member of your family and their needs- and don't forget your pets. The Department of Homeland Security has a detailed guide about putting together a kit for many different contingencies.

Even if you are just visiting a volcano for a day, make sure you are traveling with appropriate footwear, first aid supplies, and plenty of water.

"Volcanoes can change very quickly and eruptions can begin with little to no warning," cautions volcanologist Janine Krippner in a blog entry about important safety measures to take when visiting volcanoes.

What to do during an eruption?

During a disaster, be wary of misinformation and try to stick to official sources, many of which communicate dangers through social media. For example, Krippner has assembled a handy list of official volcano agency Twitter accounts. Follow instructions from authorities during an eruption, and evacuate if you are within areas told to do so.

If you are instructed to remain in your home, close all windows, doors, and other points of entry for ash. Bring pets inside and move livestock to shelters, when at all possible. Avoid running air conditioning systems, fans, and heaters during or immediately after an eruption, since they can pull in volcanic gasses and ash. Also, fill large containers, sinks, and bathtubs with clean water since eruptions can cause disruptions or contamination of water supplies.

If an evacuation seems on the horizon, the Centers for Disease Control recommends gathering additional supplies to keep in your vehicle, which should include flares, maps, basic tools, sleeping bags, and a fire extinguisher. When packing personal items, take only the essentials. And don't forget including at least a week's supply of any required prescription medications. If you don't own a vehicle, contact neighbors or others nearby who might be able to provide a ride in case you and your family need to leave.

If you must be outside, try to use a mask whenever possible. The CDC recommends the use of N-95 respirators, which can be purchased in a hardware store. While a dusk mask can be used as a last resort, the CDC cautions that they only should be used outdoors for short periods of time when ash is falling. Other ash protection includes long-sleeved shirts and long pants as well as goggles. Be aware of your surroundings, and be extra cautious if you are in low-lying regions or near river valleys as those commonly funnel debris flows.

What to do after an eruption?

Heed authorities' instructions for when it's safe to go back outside or return to your home. Alert family and friends of your status via text message or using the Red Cross' Safe and Well website. Avoid making phone calls unless it is an emergency as telecommunications are commonly very busy during and after disasters.

When it is safe to return home, check the structure and utilities for damage. The Red Cross has helpful guides that detail what to look for when returning after disaster. Also, document any damage in photos for insurance purposes.

Don respiratory protection when cleaning up ash indoors or out. The Red Cross suggests removing ash from your roof as soon as possible since it is heavy and cause structural collapse-a problem only made worse with rainfall. However, be extra careful with ash removal if you have breathing problems. Also, if you must climb on your roof, watch out, since ash can also be slippery and cause falls.

Such powerful displays of Earth's fearsome force can be frightening, but with some preparation and close following of official instructions, you can reduce the risk of being blindsided by a blast.

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Volcano Safety Tips, Preparation, and Readiness

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Millions of people around the world live near one of the roughly 1,500 active volcanoes on Earth-from Italy's Campi Flegrei to Indonesia's Merapi to the United States' Mount Rainier. While that may seem crazy to some, there's a myriad of reasons why people call these volcanic landscapes home.

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Prepare for a Volcanic Eruption | Weather Underground

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Weather Underground provides local & long-range weather forecasts, weather reports, maps & tropical weather conditions for locations worldwide

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Earthquakes and Tsunamis for Kids | A fun engaging introduction to Earthquakes and Tsunamis for Kids

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Instantly access over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids on Epic

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Mauna Loa is the largest volcano in the world. It makes up half of the area of the island of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. Along with Kilauea, it is part of the Hawaii…

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Keep yourself and others safe by being ready for the next quake.

Don't forget pets when preparing for an earthquake.

Followtheflow / Shutterstock

As recent tremors across California remind us, it's never too soon to prepare for an earthquake-especially if you live in the West. The simple steps you take now will help protect you and your household when the next round of shaking starts, and keep everyone safe in the event of aftershocks, an emergency, or a larger disaster.

1. Seek out a safe spot.

As part of your earthquake prep, examine each room of your home and figure out where to go when shaking starts. Contrary to popular belief, the safest place is not the nearest doorway, where you risk getting hit by a swinging door, breaking glass, or falling objects. It's better to move to an inside corner of the room, away from windows, light fixtures, shelves, and art or other hanging items that may shatter or fall. If possible, you want to take shelter under sturdy furniture, such as a solid wood or metal table, to protect yourself, according to Casey Brennan, senior director of social impact and advocacy at AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah.

Do not move to another room or run outside: You'll likely put yourself at greater risk. The area immediately next to any building is one of the most dangerous places to be because debris often falls off structures. Consider that some earthquakes are so powerful that you may not be able to walk or even crawl while it's happening. If you're in bed, stay where you are, but roll over on your stomach and cover your head and neck with a pillow for protection.

Keep a bag secured to the underside of the bed containing hard-soled shoes, a flashlight with extra batteries, work gloves, and a whistle. (These utilitarian items may serve you well in other types of emergencies too.) If that sounds like overkill, consider that the most common injury resulting from the July 2019 Ridgecrest earthquake in Southern California was cut feet.

"The first thing to do after an earthquake is to put on shoes and clothes to be safe," says Margaret Vinci, manager of earthquake programs at the Seismological Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

2. Practice "drop, cover, and hold on."

This crucial safety precaution means exactly what it says: Drop to the ground on your hands and knees, wherever you are, and tuck your head in toward your legs. Cover your head and neck with one hand to help protect them from falling objects as you crawl to shelter, ideally under a sturdy piece of furniture. Hold on to the furniture with one hand while you cover your head and neck with the other.

The hazards aren't over when the first wave of shaking stops. Aftershocks can come seconds, minutes, and days later. "Stay in your safe place until the shaking stops and you feel safe to move, but be aware of things that might fall after the shaking or with aftershocks," Vinci says.

Practice the Drop, Cover, and Hold On drill with your family at least once a year. If you need a reminder, mark your calendar for the Great ShakeOut in October, when millions of people around the world participate in earthquake safety drills.

"The more you practice and know your safe places, the more your body will intuitively get you into the safe place before you even think about it," Vinci says.

Read More: Your Complete Disaster Preparedness Plan

Practice what to do if an earthquake strikes when you are in bed so children know to stay put until you can safely come to get them.

Free Download Family Communication Plan Worksheet

3. Involve everyone in your practice drills.

If you live with other people-kids, parents, friends, roommates-make sure they too are well-versed in earthquake safety. Explain why you're going through the drill. Be factual without being alarmist: Earthquakes can be scary and dangerous, but drills are one of many ways we can protect ourselves.

During the Ridgecrest quake, adults were injured racing down hallways to get to their kids. "Talk to children old enough to understand to stay in bed until Mom and Dad come to get them after the shaking," Vinci says.

Protect those who cannot move to safety themselves by keeping beds and cribs (with wheels locked) away from exterior walls and windows, as well as televisions, cabinets, and other objects that may fall. "Do not have anything above the bed or on the dressers that can fly across the room," Vinci says. "All heavy objects should be down low."

4. Establish a meeting place.

Because you may not be together when an earthquake hits, plan for where and when to gather after the shaking stops. For example, your home's driveway could be your initial meeting space, as long as there are no immediate hazards nearby. As a general rule, open spaces away from power lines, tall trees, and brick structures are safest. Establish a timeline for when you're all expected to gather. If the meeting time passes and you can't locate or contact a member of your household, alert local authorities (see #5) and ask for their assistance.

Talk to your children about what to do if an earthquake strikes while they are at school and you are at work. "They should know that they will stay at school until Mom, Dad, or an assigned person can come and get them," Vinci says. "But they should also know that it could be hours or longer if parents work far away."

Parents with long commutes can ask friends or neighbors who are closer to school to pick up their kids in the event of an emergency; these details should be worked out in advance and included in your child's file at school and your family's communication plan at home.

5. Develop a communication plan.

Compile an emergency contact list-with numbers for local police, fire, and other emergency services-and keep it in your mobile phone and by your landline, if you have one. Also, create a family contact list and make sure everyone has access to it. The family list should include the number for an out-of-town or out-of-state friend or family member who may be in a better position to receive and relay messages.

In the aftermath of a quake, keep calls as brief as possible to avoid overburdening already busy cellular networks and draining your mobile phone's battery. A text is often more efficient and more likely to get through to the person you're trying to reach. If you have internet access, email and social media can also be effective ways to locate and/or communicate with family members.

Conserve the battery life on your mobile phone by dimming the screen's brightness and turning on low power mode if available. As a backup, consider buying a satellite phone or messenger (a device that allows you to send text messages via satellite) and storing it somewhere accessible in case your cell service goes down.

All U.S. cities and counties have emergency and reverse-911 numbers that send automatic alerts to your mobile phone in the event of emergencies. You can sign up for these services through various apps and websites, including Smart911.com. Keep in mind, however, that cell phone service might be down in the wake of an earthquake, so having an alternate communication plan is important.

Read More: Tips for an Emergency Plan for Your Pet Up Next:

Speak to a AAA insurance agent to learn how earthquake insurance can be part of your preparedness plan.

Get a Quote How to Prepare Your Home for an Earthquake

Earthquake kits should be kept at home, work or school, and in the car.

6. Put together earthquake preparedness kits.

Yes, kits-you should have more than one. Ideally, you'll keep one at home, one by your desk at work, and one in the trunk of your car. (Some schools in earthquake-prone areas require students to store a kit in the classroom or store emergency supplies on site. If not, your child could keep a small bag in their desk or locker.)

Earthquake kits should include first-aid supplies such as antibiotic ointment, bandages, pain relievers, prescription medications and glasses, and splinting materials, as well as tools such as a flashlight, a battery-powered radio, and a whistle to signal for help. Kits should also be stocked with enough nonperishable food and water to last at least three days. The general rule is one gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation.

Items should be stored in airtight containers and then placed in a larger container that's easy to carry, such as a backpack. Update your earthquake kits at least once a year, replacing any expired items and making any modifications to suit your household's shifting needs.

Smart Tip: Wondering what to put in your preparedness kits? Save time and hassle by ordering one with many of the essentials from Ready America. AAA Members get up to 30 percent off select Ready America products purchased online.

7. Remember to prep for your pet(s).

An emergency kit for your pet(s) should include food and water for at least five days, according to the Humane Society's guidelines. Remember a leash, a harness, and a carrier for safe transport and to prevent escape, as well as a litter box and/or bags for collecting waste. Medications and medical supplies should be stored in a waterproof container.

It's also wise to keep a pet first-aid kit that contains items such as gauze, a muzzle, a digital thermometer, and hydrogen peroxide. Keep photos of your pet(s) in your kit to help retrieve them if they're lost and to verify ownership when you're reunited.

Note that most emergency shelters do not allow pets. Ask a friend or a relative in advance if they would be willing to take your pet(s) in the wake of an emergency. Keep their contact information in your pet's emergency kit.

8. Identify alternate shelter.

If your home is uninhabitable or unreachable after an earthquake, you'll need somewhere else to sleep. You might turn to a friend, a family member, a neighbor, or a community-supported emergency shelter.

"It's very important to have alliances," says Gary Reid, a former insurance operations and specialty product manager for AAA. In addition to a family plan, you should have a neighborhood or community plan. To find out if one already exists in your area, call your local emergency management department. If not, you can start a neighborhood program through Map Your Neighborhood (in the Bay Area, it is called Neighborfest), a national organization that helps communities prepare for disasters.

Smart Tip: Did you know that most renters and homeowners policies do not cover earthquake damage or loss? Get an Earthquake Insurance quote from AAA.

9. Keep gas in the tank and cash on hand.

After a major earthquake, some standard services may be unavailable. Keeping your vehicle's tank at least half-full at all times is a good idea; in addition to being prepared for an emergency, you'll never run out of gas. In terms of cash, estimate what you'd need to cover the bare necessities for a week, and stash that amount in small bills (ones, fives, and tens) in a safe, accessible place alongside your emergency kit.

10. Take a CPR class and other safety courses.

Your training could help save lives in the event of an emergency. The American Red Cross offers CPR and first-aid classes that take only a few hours to complete. Another valuable resource is the Community Emergency Response Team, a national program that educates volunteers in disaster preparedness, covering such topics as fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical operations.

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10 Easy Steps to Earthquake Preparedness | Via

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Keep yourself and others safe by being ready for the next quake. As recent tremors across California remind us, it's never too soon to prepare for an earthquake-especially if you live in the West.

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At least 247 people are so far reported to have been killed in the devastating earthquake that hit Italy on Wednesday. The epicenter of the recent earthquake of 6.2 magnitudes was in Norcia, Umbria, approximately 100km north-east of Rome, and towns including Amatrice, Accumoli, and Pescara del Tronto have been severely damaged by the natural disaster. It's only when you look at these before and after pictures however that you can really begin to understand the true level of destruction.

"My town isn't here anymore," said the mayor of Accumoli, Stefano Petrucci, as he surveyed what remains of his hometown. Most of Amatrice's historic old town has been reduced to rubble, and the biggest earthquake of a decade caused houses to collapse down the hillside in Pescara del Tronto. Tremors rocked buildings as far away as Rome and survivors have described 'apocalyptic' scenes near Perugia, the capital of the Umbrian region popular with holidaymakers. Scroll below to see the Italy earthquake damage for yourself.

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33 Before and After Italian Earthquake: Heartbreaking Photos Show Destroyed Towns In Italy

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At least 247 people are so far reported to have been killed in the devastating earthquake that hit Italy on Wednesday. The epicentre of the 6.2 magnitude quake was in Norcia, Umbria, approximately 100km north-east of Rome, and towns including Amatrice, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto have been badly damaged.

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Volcano Videos: Fun facts & more! | Nat Geo Kids

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Learn how volcanoes work with Nat Geo Kids. Photo © Pablo Hidalgo | Dreamstime.com

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What are volcanoes, how do they form and why do they erupt? | CBC Kids News

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The Ring of Fire | Nat Geo Kids Volcano Playlist

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Understanding earthquakes: The science behind what makes the earth shake | CBC Kids News

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Why Earthquakes Happen and How to Measure Them

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Why Earthquakes Happen and How to Measure Them

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Earthquakes for Kids STEM | Learn why earthquakes happen and how to measure them

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Kids learn about the science of volcanoes including how they form mountains, lava, and magma; types such as cinder cone, composite, and shield; watch a video about volcanoes.

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You feel the ground suddenly shake, and nearby objects are trembling. An earthquake is happening.

Also called a temblor, an earthquake is caused by the movement of parts of the Earth's crust, its outermost layer. They happen millions of times a year, but most are so small people don't even feel them.

But powerful earthquakes can cause landslides, tsunamis, flooding, and other dangerous events. Most damage and deaths happen in places where a lot of people live, because the shaking causes windows to break, structures to collapse, fire to break out, and other dangers.

Learn more about these unpredictable Earth tremors-and what to do if one rattles near you.

How earthquakes develop

The action all starts thousands of miles below your feet.

Picture Earth as a hard-boiled egg: Earth's core is the yolk, and the mantle is the white part. The outer crust is the eggshell.

People live on the surface of the crust. Below the surface-but still within the crust-are tectonic plates. Like gigantic puzzle pieces, these huge slabs of rock encircle the Earth. The seven major plates are named for the regions they rest under: the African, Antarctic, Eurasian, Indo-Australian, North American, Pacific, and South American tectonic plates

Tectonic plates aren't connected but are close together. Where they meet along their edges is called a fault. When heat from the Earth's core creates currents in the crust, the tectonic plates can scrape, bump, or drag along each other. This is what causes an earthquake-and why the surface sometimes cracks like an eggshell.

How to measure earthquakes

About a half-million quakes rock the Earth every day. Usually the quake is too small, too far below the surface, or too deep in the seafloor to be felt. Some, however, are so powerful they can be felt thousands of miles away.

The spot on the surface just above where an earthquake starts is called the epicenter. Ripples called seismic waves travel out from the epicenter. This causes vibrations that people can feel, sometimes very far from the epicenter.

How far away people can feel an earthquake's vibrations depends on its size, or magnitude. Scientists base the magnitude on the strength and duration of the quake's seismic waves. The higher the number, the more powerful the earthquake: A magnitude 3 to 4.9 earthquake is considered minor; 5 to 6.9 is moderate to strong; 7 to 7.9 is major; and 8 or more is an extremely powerful temblor.

As the crust settles after an earthquake, another temblor called an aftershock can happen. Usually, aftershocks are not as powerful as the first quake but can still be very strong.

Geologists can't predict earthquakes. But they're working to change that with new research and technology.

Where earthquakes happen

Earthquakes occur along faults, the areas where tectonic plates meet. About 80 percent of earthquakes occur along the rim of the Pacific Ocean. Called the Ring of Fire because of the large number of volcanoes there, the area is a meeting point for many tectonic plates.

Earthquakes are also common in California because the region sits on top of the Pacific and North American tectonic plates. Temblors happen when these two plates grind against each other. About two-thirds of this movement happens along the San Andreas Fault.

Another major earthquake area in the United States is the New Madrid Seismic Zone, which affects Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Illinois.

How to survive an earthquake

Earthquakes can happen anytime or anywhere-even if you don't live near a fault. So it's a good idea to prepare.

* Talk with your family about the safest places in your home in case an earthquake hits. This could be under a sturdy table or next to an interior wall (one that is not connected to the outside).

* Look for heavy items that could fall or break during a quake, and move them to safer spots.

* Ask your parents to make sure you have an emergency kit containing things like first-aid supplies, a flashlight, a cell phone charger, and a battery-operated radio. Your family should also have enough food and water for at least 72 hours

DURING AN EARTHQUAKE: Most earthquakes last only 10 to 30 seconds, so it's important to get to a safe place fast. Remember three things during an earthquake: drop, cover, and hold on.

Drop: Get down on your hands and knees and crawl to your shelter.

Cover: Underneath a sturdy table, desk, or bed, cover your head and neck with your arms. If furniture isn't nearby, crouch down on your knees with your arms over your head and neck next to an interior wall. (Don't stand under a doorway-they can easily collapse.)

Hold on: If you're under a piece of furniture, hold on with one hand and move with the furniture if it starts sliding. Stay where you are until the shaking stops.

AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE: Once the earthquake ends, check for injuries. Listen to a radio for any warnings and instructions from official organizations like the United States Geological Survey. Be prepared for any aftershocks.

Text and images adapted from Everything Volcanoes and Earthquakes: Earthshaking photos, facts, and fun!

(Learn more about earthquakes at National Geographic.)

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Learn the science behind how earthquakes happen-and how you can stay safe if one hits.

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Fun Kids - the UK's children's radio station

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1. Earthquakes usually happen on the edge of tectonic plates.

Earthquakes are more common in certain countries due them being on the edge of tectonic plates.

Tectonic plates are the outer layer of the Earth.

They are made of rock and are constantly moving.

Find out what the planet is made from!

Embed from Getty Images

2. Earthquakes occur when the plates get stuck but keep trying to move!

The tectonic plates are constantly moving but sometimes they get stuck.

When they get stuck, pressure builds up and the plates will suddenly move.

This causes an earthquake!

Find out more about tectonic plates

Embed from Getty Images

3. Before an earthquake foreshocks might occur.

Foreshocks can sometimes occur before a big earthquake.

It can be one or more small earthquakes which happen in the lead up to a bigger one, which is known as the main shock.

Scientists can often use these to predict big earthquakes.

4. After an earthquake aftershocks are likely to happen.

After a big earthquake, aftershocks will often happen.

An aftershock is one or more small earthquakes after the main one has occurred.

This is because of the Earth's crust adjusting to the effect of the main earthquake.

They can be very dangerous as buildings might already have damage to them from the large earthquake and so it can often cause them to fall.

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5. The shockwaves that travel through the ground are called seismic waves.

The shockwaves that travel through the ground are called seismic waves.

They are very strong at the centre of the earthquake.

The waves travel to the surface and this is when the ground shakes and destruction happens.

Embed from Getty Images

6. Scientists use the Moment Magnitude scale to measure how strong an earthquake is.

Scientists use something called the Moment Magnitude scale to measure how strong an earthquake is.

This scale measures the energy that is released by the earthquake which makes it very accurate.

In the past, scientists used something called the Richter scale which measured the size of the seismic waves.

However, this wasn't as accurate as it could have been.

Read about female scientists!

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7. The place where an earthquake starts is called the hypocentre.

An earthquake has to start somewhere!

The place where an earthquake starts is called the hypocentre.

It is always under ground, below the Earth's surface.

8. The ground above where an earthquake starts is called the epicentre.

The epicentre of an earthquake is on the ground directly above the hypocentre.

The difference between them is the hypocentre is under the ground and the epicentre is above the ground.

This is where the earthquake starts.

9. The strongest ever earthquake was in Chile, in the year 1960.

The strongest ever earthquake happened in Chile on 22nd May, 1960.

It was a 9.5 on the Moment magnitude scale which is very, very high.

The earthquake lasted for 10 whole minutes.

Embed from Getty Images

10. Japan is the country where most earthquakes occur.

The most recorded earthquakes happen in Japan.

This is because Japan is within something known as 'The Pacific Ring of Fire'.

This is on the edge of the Pacific Ocean and is where there is a tectonic plate edge.

Other countries that are affected are Philippines, United States, Chile and more.

Due to this, they suffer more earthquakes than some other countries, like the UK for example.

Embed from Getty Images

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Top 10 Facts About Earthquakes! - Fun Kids - the UK's children's radio station

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Earthquakes are more common in certain countries due them being on the edge of tectonic plates. Tectonic plates are the outer layer of the Earth. They are made of rock and are constantly moving. Find out what the planet is made from! Embed from Getty Images The tectonic plates are constantly moving but sometimes they get stuck.

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Preparing for an Earthquake (starter video)

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Preparing for an Earthquake (starter video)

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An earthquake is an intense shaking of Earth's surface. The shaking is caused by movements in Earth's outermost layer.

Why Do Earthquakes Happen?

Although the Earth looks like a pretty solid place from the surface, it's actually extremely active just below the surface. The Earth is made of four basic layers: a solid crust, a hot, nearly solid mantle, a liquid outer core and a solid inner core.

The solid crust and top, stiff layer of the mantle make up a region called the lithosphere. The lithosphere isn't a continuous piece that wraps around the whole Earth like an eggshell. It's actually made up of giant puzzle pieces called tectonic plates. Tectonic plates are constantly shifting as they drift around on the viscous, or slowly flowing, mantle layer below.

This non-stop movement causes stress on Earth's crust. When the stresses get too large, it leads to cracks called faults. When tectonic plates move, it also causes movements at the faults. An earthquake is the sudden movement of Earth's crust at a fault line.

The location where an earthquake begins is called the epicenter. An earthquake's most intense shaking is often felt near the epicenter. However, the vibrations from an earthquake can still be felt and detected hundreds, or even thousands of miles away from the epicenter.

How Do We Measure Earthquakes?

The energy from an earthquake travels through Earth in vibrations called seismic waves. Scientists can measure these seismic waves on instruments called seismometer. A seismometer detects seismic waves below the instrument and records them as a series of zig-zags.

Scientists can determine the time, location and intensity of an earthquake from the information recorded by a seismometer. This record also provides information about the rocks the seismic waves traveled through.

Do Earthquakes Only Happen on Earth?

Earthquake is a name for seismic activity on Earth, but Earth isn't the only place with seismic activity. Scientists have measured quakes on Earth's Moon, and see evidence for seismic activity on Mars, Venus and several moons of Jupiter, too!

NASA's InSight mission took a seismometer to Mars to study seismic activity there, known as marsquakes. On Earth, we know that different materials vibrate in different ways. By studying the vibrations from marsquakes, scientists hope to figure out what materials are found on the inside of Mars.

InSight is collecting tons of information about what Mars is like under the surface. These new discoveries will help us understand more about how planets like Mars-and our home, Earth-came to be.

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Learn more about tremors on Earth-and other planets too!

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Kid's learn about the science of earthquakes. What causes them and where they happen.

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An earthquake (or quakes, tremors) is shaking of the surface of earth, caused by sudden movement in the Earth's crust. They can be extremely violent.

Earthquakes are usually quite brief, but may repeat. They are the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust. This creates seismic waves, which are waves of energy that travel through the Earth. The study of earthquakes is called seismology. Seismology studies the frequency, type and size of earthquakes over a period of time.

There are large earthquakes and small earthquakes. Large earthquakes can take down buildings and cause death and injury. Earthquakes are measured using observations from seismometers. The magnitude of an earthquake, and the intensity of shaking, is usually reported on the Richter scale. On the scale, 3 or less is scarcely noticeable, and magnitude 7 (or more) causes damage over a wide area.

An earthquake under the ocean can cause a tsunami. This can cause just as much death and destruction as the earthquake itself. Landslides can happen, too. Earthquakes are part of the Earth's rock cycle.

The ancient Chinese used a device that looked like a jar with dragons on the top surrounded by frogs with their mouths open. When an earthquake occurred, a ball fitted into each dragon's mouth would drop out of the dragon's mouth into the frog's. The position of the frog which received a ball indicated the direction of the earthquake. This was one of the first tools to help figure out where an earthquake originated from.

Causes of an earthquake

Earthquakes are caused by tectonic movements in the Earth's crust. The main cause is that when tectonic plates collide, one rides over the other, causing orogeny (mountain building), earthquakes and volcanoes.

The boundaries between moving plates form the largest fault surfaces on Earth. When they stick, relative motion between the plates leads to increasing stress. This continues until the stress rises and breaks, suddenly allowing sliding over the locked portion of the fault, releasing the stored energy.

Earthquake fault types

There are three main types of geological fault that may cause an earthquake: normal, reverse (thrust) and strike-slip. Normal faults occur mainly in areas where the crust is being extended. Reverse faults occur in areas where the crust is being shortened. Strike-slip faults are steep structures where the two sides of the fault slip horizontally past each other.

Earthquake clusters

Most earthquakes form part of a sequence, related to each other in terms of location and time. Most earthquake clusters consist of small tremors which cause little to no damage, but there is a theory that earthquakes can recur in a regular pattern.

A foreshock is an earthquake that occurs before a larger earthquake, called the mainshock. A foreshock is in the same area of the main shock but always of a smaller magnitude.

An aftershock is an earthquake that occurs after a previous earthquake, the mainshock. An aftershock is in the same region of the main shock but always of a smaller magnitude. Aftershocks are formed as the crust adjusts to the effects of the main shock.

Earthquake swarms are sequences of earthquakes striking in a specific area within a short period of time. They are different from earthquakes followed by a series of aftershocks by the fact that no single earthquake in the sequence is obviously the main shock, therefore none have notably higher magnitudes than the other. An example of an earthquake swarm is the 2004 activity at Yellowstone National Park.

Sometimes a series of earthquakes occur in a sort of earthquake storm, where the earthquakes strike a fault in clusters, each triggered by the shaking or stress redistribution of the previous earthquakes. Similar to aftershocks but on adjacent segments of fault, these storms occur over the course of years, and with some of the later earthquakes as damaging as the early ones. Such a pattern occurred in the North Anatolian fault in Turkey in the 20th century.

Tsunami or a chain of fast moving waves in the ocean caused by powerful earthquakes is a very serious challenge for people's safety and for earthquake engineering. Those waves can inundate coastal areas, destroy houses and even swipe away whole towns.

Unfortunately, tsunamis can not be prevented. However, there are warning systems which may warn the population before the big waves reach the land to let them enough time to rush to safety.

Earthquake-proofing

Some places, such as Japan or California, have many earthquakes and many inhabitants. There, it is good practice to construct houses and other buildings which will resist collapse in an earthquake. This is called seismic design or " earthquake-proofing".

Earthquake-proof buildings are constructed to withstand the destructive force of an earthquake. This depends upon its type of construction, shape, mass distribution, and rigidity. Different combinations are used. Square, rectangular, and shell-shaped buildings can withstand earthquakes better than skyscrapers. To reduce stress, a building's ground floor can be supported by extremely rigid, hollow columns, while the rest of the building is supported by flexible columns inside the hollow columns. Another method is to use rollers or rubber pads to separate the base columns from the ground, allowing the columns to shake parallel to each other during an earthquake.

To help prevent a roof from collapsing, builders make the roof out of light-weight materials. Outdoor walls are made with stronger and more reinforced materials such as steel or reinforced concrete. During an earthquake flexible windows may help hold the windows together so they don't break.

Related pages

Images for kids

Earthquake epicenters occur mostly along tectonic plate boundaries, and especially on the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Comparison of the 1985 and 2017 earthquakes on Mexico City, Puebla and Michoacán/Guerrero

Ruins of the Għajn Ħadid Tower, which collapsed during the 1856 Heraklion earthquake

An image from a 1557 book depicting an earthquake in Italy in the 4th century BCE

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An earthquake (or quakes, tremors) is shaking of the surface of earth, caused by sudden movement in the Earth's crust. They can be extremely violent. Earthquakes are usually quite brief, but may repeat. They are the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust.

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KABOOM! All About Volcanoes! | SciShow Kids Compilation

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Buckle up to join Jessi, Squeaks, and Sam the Bat for a lava-filled adventure to explore every kind of volcano — from the islands of Hawai’i to the tallest…

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Volcanoes for Kids | A fun and engaging introduction to volcanoes for children

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A volcano is an opening on the surface of a planet or moon that allows material warmer than its surroundings to escape from its interior. When this material escapes, it causes an eruption. An eruption can be explosive, sending material high into the sky. Or it can be calmer, with gentle flows of material.

These volcanic areas usually form mountains built from the many layers of rock, ash or other material that collect around them. Volcanoes can be active, dormant, or extinct. Active volcanoes are volcanoes that have had recent eruptions or are expected to have eruptions in the near future. Dormant volcanoes no longer produce eruptions, but might again sometime in the future. Extinct volcanoes will likely never erupt again.

What Causes Volcanoes?

Volcanoes occur when material significantly warmer than its surroundings is erupted onto the surface of a planet or moon from its interior. On Earth, the erupted material can be liquid rock ("lava" when it's on the surface, "magma" when it's underground), ash, cinders, and/or gas. There are three reasons why magma might rise and cause eruptions onto Earth's surface.

Magma can rise when pieces of Earth's crust called tectonic plates slowly move away from each other. The magma rises up to fill in the space. When this happens underwater volcanoes can form.

Magma also rises when these tectonic plates move toward each other. When this happens, part of Earth's crust can be forced deep into its interior. The high heat and pressure cause the crust to melt and rise as magma. A final way that magma rises is over hot spots. Hot spots are exactly what they sound like--hot areas inside of Earth. These areas heat up magma. The magma becomes less dense. When it is less dense it rises. Each of the reasons for rising magma are a bit different, but each can form volcanoes.

Are There Volcanoes Elsewhere In Our Solar System?

Yes! There have been a lot of volcanoes on other planets in the past. Some places in our solar system have active volcanoes erupting right now! Venus and Mars are covered with extinct volcanoes. Some of the moons of Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune actually have eruptions happening right now. We have taken pictures of these with many different NASA spacecraft!

Check out Space Place's Space Volcano Explorer to learn more!

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A volcano is a mountain that has lava (hot, liquid rock) coming out from a magma chamber under the ground, or did have in the past. Volcanoes are formed by the movement of tectonic plates.

Volcanism away from plate boundaries is caused by mantle plumes. These so-called " hotspots", for example Hawaii, are thought to arise from upwelling magma from the core-mantle boundary, 3,000 km deep in the Earth.

Most volcanoes have a volcanic crater at the top. When a volcano is active, materials come out of it. The materials include lava, steam, gaseous sulfur compounds, ash and broken rock pieces.

When there is enough pressure, the volcano erupts. Some volcanic eruptions blow off the top of the volcano. Sometimes, the magma comes out quickly and sometimes it comes slowly. Some eruptions come out at a side instead of the top.

Volcanoes are found on planets other than Earth. An example is Olympus Mons on Mars.

Volcanologists are scientists who study volcanoes using methods from geology, chemistry, geography, mineralogy, physics and sociology.

The world's biggest volcano is named Mauna Loa in Hawaii. Mauna Loa is part of the five volcanoes on Hawaii's 'Big Island'. The most recent time this volcano erupted was in 1984. It erupted 33 times in the last 170 years. Like all the other Hawaiian volcanoes, Mauna Loa was created by the movement of the Pacific tectonic plate which moved over the Hawaii hotspot in the Earth's mantle. Mauna Loa is 4,196 meters tall. It is a shield volcano. The largest recent eruption from Mauna Loa left a lava trail 51 kilometres (32 miles) long.

Types of volcanoes

The lava and pyroclastic material (clouds of ash, lava fragments and vapor) that comes out from volcanoes can make many different kinds of land shapes. There are two basic kinds of volcanoes.

Shield volcanoes

These volcanoes are formed by fluid low- silica mafic lava.

Shield volcanoes are built out of layers of lava from continual eruptions (without explosions). Because the lava is so fluid, it spreads out, often over a wide area. Shield volcanoes do not grow to a great height, and the layers of lava spread out to give the volcano gently sloping sides. Shield volcanoes can produce huge areas of basalt, which is usually what lava is when cooled.

The base of the volcano increases in size over successive eruptions where solidified lava spreads out and accumulates. Some of the world's largest volcanoes are shield volcanoes.

Even though their sides are not very steep, shield volcanoes can be huge. Mauna Kea in Hawaii is the biggest mountain on Earth if it is measured from its base on the floor of the sea.

Stratovolcanoes

A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a tall, conical volcano. It is built up of many layers of hardened lava, tephra, pumice, and volcanic ash.

Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes have a steep profile and periodic eruptions. The lava that flows from stratovolcanoes cools and hardens before spreading far. It is sticky, that is, it has high viscosity. The magma forming this lava is often felsic, with high-to-intermediate levels of silica, and less mafic magma. Big felsic lava flows are uncommon, but have travelled as far as 15 km (9.3 mi).

A caldera is a basin-like feature formed by collapse of land after a volcanic eruption. This happens after a huge stratovolcano blows its top off. The base of the crater then sinks, leaving a caldera where the top of the volcano was before. Krakatoa, best known for its catastrophic eruption in 1883, is much smaller now.

How volcanoes are formed

There are two main processes.

The second way is when a tectonic plate moves over a hot spot in the Earth's crust. The hot spot works its way through the crust until it breaks through. The caldera of Yellowstone Park was formed in that way; so were the Hawaiian Islands.

Classification

A traditional way to classify or identify volcanoes is by its pattern of eruptions. Those volcanoes which may erupt again at any time are called active. Those that are now quiet are called dormant (inactive). Those volcanoes which have not erupted in historical times are called extinct.

An active volcano is currently erupting, or it has erupted in the last 10,000 years. An example of an active volcano is Mount St. Helens in the United States (US).

Dormant (inactive)

A dormant volcano is "sleeping," but it could awaken in the future. Mount Rainier in the United States is considered dormant.

Extinct (dead volcano)

An extinct volcano has not erupted in the past 10,000 years. Edinburgh Castle in Scotland sits on top of an extinct volcano.

Some volcanoes

Largest volcano on Earth

The 310,000 km ² (119,000 sq mi) volcano, Tamu Massif, is comparable in size to Mars' vast Olympus Mons volcano, which is the largest known volcano in the Solar System. It was formed about 145 million years ago when massive lava flows erupted from the centre of the volcano to form a broad, shield-like feature. That suggests the volcano produced a flood basalt eruption.

The Tamu Massif extends some 30 km (18 miles) into the Earth's crust. The researchers doubted the submerged volcano's peak ever rose above sea level during its lifetime and say it is unlikely to erupt again.

"The bottom line is that we think that Tamu Massif was built in a short (geologically speaking) time of one to several million years and it has been extinct since", co-author William Sager of the University of Houston told the AFP news agency.

"There were lots of oceanic plateaus (that) erupted during the Cretaceous period (145-65 million years ago) but we don't see them since. Scientists would like to know why... The biggest oceanic plateau is Ontong Java Plateau, near the equator in the Pacific, east of the Solomon Islands. It is much bigger than Tamu - it's the size of France".

Volcanic eruptions pose a hazard to humans.

Ash thrown into the air by eruptions can present a hazard to aircraft, especially jet aircraft where the particles can be melted by the high operating temperature; the melted particles then adhere to the turbine blades and alter their shape, disrupting the operation of the turbine. This can cause major disruptions to air travel.

A volcanic winter is thought to have taken place around 70,000 years ago after the supereruption of Lake Toba on Sumatra island in Indonesia. This may have created a population bottleneck that affected the genetic inheritance of all humans today. Volcanic eruptions may have contributed to major extinction events, such as the End-Ordovician, Permian-Triassic, and Late Devonian mass extinctions.

The 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora created global climate anomalies that became known as the "Year Without a Summer" because of the effect on North American and European weather. The freezing winter of 1740-41, which led to widespread famine in northern Europe, may also owe its origins to a volcanic eruption.

Although volcanic eruptions pose considerable hazards to humans, past volcanic activity has created important economic resources. Tuff formed from volcanic ash is a relatively soft rock, and it has been used for construction since ancient times. The Romans often used tuff, which is abundant in Italy, for construction. The Rapa Nui people used tuff to make most of the statues in Easter Island.

Volcanic ash and weathered basalt produce some of the most fertile soil in the world, rich in nutrients such as iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus. Volcanic activity is responsible for emplacing valuable mineral resources, such as metal ores. It is accompanied by high rates of heat flow from Earth's interior. These can be tapped as geothermal power.

Tourism associated with volcanoes is also a worldwide industry.

Safety considerations

Many volcanoes near human settlements are heavily monitored with the aim of providing adequate advance warnings of imminent eruptions to nearby populations.

Thus in many cases, while volcanic eruptions may still cause major property destruction, the periodic large-scale loss of human life that was once associated with many volcanic eruptions, has recently been significantly reduced in areas where volcanoes are adequately monitored.

This life-saving ability is derived via volcanic-activity monitoring programs, through the greater abilities of local officials to facilitate timely evacuations, and upon improved communications technologies such as cell phones.

Citizens who may be concerned about their own exposure to risk from nearby volcanic activity should familiarize themselves with the types of, and quality of, volcano monitoring and public notification procedures being employed by governmental authorities in their areas.

Related pages

Images for kids

Narcondam Island, India, is classified as a dormant volcano by the Geological Survey of India

Solar radiation graph 1958-2008, showing how the radiation is reduced after major volcanic eruptions

In Spanish: Volcán para niños

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JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN, HOST: Glaciers cover only about 10 percent of the Earth's surface and yet play a major role in the health of our planet.

Find out more about glaciers.

(SCIENCE TREK MUSIC) KID ONE: What are we doing here?

KID TWO: Looking for glaciers.

KID ONE: What's a glacier?

CARTAN-HANSEN: What's a glacier?

Glaciers are really, really, large masses of snow the packs down on itself over really long periods of time.

Eventually all that snow gets so tightly packed down that it turns into ice.

KID ONE: what?

CARTAN-HANSEN: Okay, let's have a glacier scientist explain it.

ELLEN ENDERLIN, ASST.

PROG.

OF GEOSCIENCE, BOISE STATE: So, you can think of this if you live in a place that's snowy, where if you make a really, really, hard snowball, It almost feels like ice if you get hit with one of those, or if you hit someone else, or if you're in a place where people tend to not shovel their sidewalks in the winter, that snow builds up over time and then people step on it.

That's pressing it down eventually.

It feels a lot like ice.

It gets really, really, slippery.

It's that same process going on for glaciers.

It's that snow building up over time, but it's just the weight of the snow is pressing it down and it causes it to turn to ice.

And then eventually it gets so big that gravity acts on it and it causes it to flow downhill.

And then that's when you have a glacier.

CARTAN-HANSEN: Glaciers are found near the north and south poles and in mountain ranges.

There're two basic types of glaciers.

Continental glaciers or ice sheets are wide, thick sheets of ice covering most of Antarctica and Greenland.

These ice sheets can more than two miles or three kilometers thick.

They build up in the center and slope downwards toward the edge and cover the land completely.

Alpine glaciers are formed high in the mountainsides and slowly move downward.

They come in different shapes.

Valley glaciers are long and narrow.

And piedmont glaciers are formed at the base of a mountain.

They spread out onto flat land and make a round, lump shape.

Glaciers of all kinds share three characteristics: They form on land.

They are made of ice, And they move.

KID TWO: They move?

KID ONE: That's right.

KID TWO: How do they move.

KID ONE: Gravity.

KID TWO: Gravity?

CARTAN-HANSEN: Gravity.

The same force that pulls a skateboarder down a slope, is what makes glaciers move.

In fact, glaciers are the largest moving objects on earth.

Think of them as rivers of ice.

Heat from the Earth's surface and friction cause the bottom of a glacier to slightly melt, and gravity pulls them downward.

And moving glaciers scrape away the landscape, leaving behind mountains and valleys.

KID TWO: Mountains and valleys?

How fast do glaciers move?

CARTAN-HANSEN: Glaciers move at different speeds.

Most move at less than an inch each day.

Others go through fast moving periods called surges.

These can move hundreds of feet a day.

KID TWO: If they move so slowly, how did glaciers create mountains and valleys?

KID ONE: Because they did it over vast periods of time.

The glaciers we have today are leftovers from the Ice Age.

KID TWO: Oh, okay.

But why are we still looking for them today?

KID ONE: Because they are disappearing.

KID TWO: Disappearing?

Why?

CARTAN-HANSEN: Because of climate change.

As the earth's average temperature rises, glaciers melt faster.

ENDERLIN: Glaciers are not doing well worldwide.

we see that all around the globe, glaciers are getting smaller.

CARTAN-HANSEN: And this isn't a problem just at the north and south pole.

Glacier store about 69 percent of the world's fresh water.

About two billion people across the world depend upon mountain glaciers and snowpack for their drinking water and more.

ENDERLIN: In the Andes, they really rely on them for hydroelectric power, for irrigation, for all sorts of things for drinking water, they're seeing a decrease in their water.

And other places where you know more on that, wow, we're getting an increase in water.

And then you have these hazards associated with flooding.

associated with flooding.

associated with flooding.

CARTAN-HANSEN: And there's an even bigger reason to be concerned about glacier melt.

ENDERLIN: They're also really important for, um, controlling things like our world's climate, which often you don't really think about the fact that our climate is also sensitive to what is going on the earth's surface.

As they get smaller, they reflect less energy from the sun.

You know, snow is really bright white.

You go outside on a sunny day after it snowed.

And if the cover your eyes, they are reflecting the sun's energy as they get smaller.

We expose more land and water to the sun's ray and that's a darker surface that absorbs more of the sun's energy.

So in fact, when we lose our glaciers, we absorb more of the sun's energy and then that causes the atmosphere to warm even more.

And also as we pump out more water into the oceans, that can influence our ocean circulation as well, which also controls climate.

KID TWO: So what can we do?

KID ONE: Yah, what can we do?

ENDERLIN: we can reduce our carbon footprint, meaning how much fossil fuels basically we, we burn, how much plastic we use that's also made from oil.

So, we can reduce what we're using, how we're making use of the earth three sources.

And that will actually help us with glaciers.

There'll still be a time that will get smaller, but it doesn't mean that we have to have all of the glaciers go away.

CARTAN-HANSEN: You can also learn more about glaciers and how they impact our world.

KID TWO: Good idea.

Let's start climbing KID ONE: Umm, I think we can study glaciers from here.

KID TWO: Better idea.

Hand over those binoculars.

I want to see.

CARTAN-HANSEN: If you want to learn more about glaciers, check out the Science Trek website.

You'll find it at ScienceTrek.org.

(MUSIC) ANNOUNCER: Presentation of Science Trek on Idaho Public Television is made possible through the generous support of the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, committed to fulfilling the Moore and Bettis family legacy of building the great state of Idaho.

By the Idaho National Laboratory, mentoring talent and finding solutions for energy and security challenges, by The Friends of Idaho Public Television and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

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Science Trek | Glaciers: Glacier Encounter

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Find out how glaciers are created and their impact on our lives.

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What's below the tip of the iceberg? - Camille Seaman

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Climate 101: Glaciers | National Geographic

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Wrap up warm, gang, and join us here at Nat Geo Kids as we check out ten brrr-illiant facts about glaciers!

10 fab glacier facts

1) Glaciers are huge masses of ice that "flow" like very slow rivers. They form over hundreds of years where fallen snow compresses and turns into ice.

2) Glaciers form the largest reservoir of fresh water on the planet. In fact, they store 75% of the world's fresh water!

3) Today, glaciers cover around 10% of the Earth's total land area. During the last ice age they covered 32%. Brrrr!

4) Glaciers are usually divided into two groups - Alpine glaciers, which form on mountainsides and move downward through valleys, and Continental ice sheets, which spread out and cover larger areas.

Watch two National Geographic explorers team up to cross the world's 20 largest glaciers.

5) The world's largest glacier is Lambert Glacier, located in Antarctica, measuring approximately 100km wide, 400km long and 2.5km deep!

6) Because glacial ice is so dense and compact, it often appears a bright blue colour!

7) The Kutiah Glacier in Pakistan has the record for the fastest glacier surge. In 1953, it moved more than 12km in three months.

8) Earth's two ice sheets cover most of Greenland and Antarctica and make up more than 99% of the world's glacial ice.

Check out ice caves with National Geographic Explorer M. Jackson!

9) If climate change caused the Antarctic ice sheet to melt entirely, it is estimated that sea levels would rise by around 65m. That means that London would be lost underwater!

10) Glacial ice can be hundreds of thousands of years old, which makes it a valuable resource for assessing climate change. By extracting and analysing the ice, scientists can learn about what the climate was like on Earth thousands of years ago!

Photos: Getty Images UK

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Wrap up warm, gang, and join us here at Nat Geo Kids as we check out ten brrr-illiant glacier facts. Find out how they're formed and more...

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A glacier is a huge mass of ice that moves slowly over land. The term "glacier" comes from the French word glace (glah-SAY), which means ice. Glaciers are often called "rivers of ice."

Glaciers fall into two groups: alpine glaciers and ice sheets.

Alpine glaciers form on mountainsides and move downward through valleys. Sometimes, alpine glaciers create or deepen valleys by pushing dirt, soil, and other materials out of their way. Alpine glaciers are found in high mountains of every continent except Australia (although there are many in New Zealand). The Gorner Glacier in Switzerland and the Furtwangler Glacier in Tanzania are both typical alpine glaciers. Alpine glaciers are also called valley glaciers or mountain glaciers.

Ice sheets, unlike alpine glaciers, are not limited to mountainous areas. They form broad domes and spread out from their centers in all directions. As ice sheets spread, they cover everything around them with a thick blanket of ice, including valleys, plains, and even entire mountains. The largest ice sheets, called continental glaciers, spread over vast areas. Today, continental glaciers cover most of Antarctica and the island of Greenland.

Massive ice sheets covered much of North America and Europe during the Pleistocene time period. This was the last glacial period, also known as the Ice Age. Ice sheets reached their greatest size about 18,000 years ago. As the ancient glaciers spread, they carved and changed the Earth's surface, creating many of the landscapes that exist today. During the Pleistocene Ice Age, nearly one-third of the Earth's land was covered by glaciers. Today, about one-tenth of the Earth's land is covered by glacial ice.

How Glaciers Form

Glaciers begin forming in places where more snow piles up each year than melts. Soon after falling, the snow begins to compress, or become denser and tightly packed. It slowly changes from light, fluffy crystals to hard, round ice pellets. New snow falls and buries this granular snow. The hard snow becomes even more compressed. It becomes a dense, grainy ice called firn. The process of snow compacting into glacial firn is called firnification.

As years go by, layers of firn build on top of each other. When the ice grows thick enough-about 50 meters (160 feet)-the firn grains fuse into a huge mass of solid ice. The glacier begins to move under its own weight. The glacier is so heavy and exerts so much pressure that the firn and snow melt without any increase in temperature. The meltwater makes the bottom of the heavy glacier slicker and more able to spread across the landscape.

Pulled by gravity, an alpine glacier moves slowly down a valley. Some glaciers, called hanging glaciers, don't flow the entire length of a mountain. Avalanches and icefalls transfer glacial ice from hanging glaciers to a larger glacier beneath them, or directly to the valley below.

An ice sheet spreads out from its center. The great mass of ice in a glacier behaves plastically, or like a liquid. It flows, oozes, and slides over uneven surfaces until it covers everything in its path.

Different parts of a glacier move at different speeds. The flowing ice in the middle of the glacier moves faster than the base, which grinds slowly along its rocky bed.

The different speeds at which the glacier moves causes tension to build within the brittle, upper part of the ice. The top of the glacier fractures, forming cracks called crevasses. Crevasses are in the top 50 meters (160 feet) of the glacier. Crevasses can be very dangerous for mountaineers. They can open quickly and be very deep.

Moulins are another formation that carve into glaciers. A moulin is a deep, nearly-vertical pipeline in the glacier formed by meltwater on top of the glacier falling through a crack in the ice. Moulins are often much deeper than crevasses, going all the way to the bottom of the glacier.

Most glaciers move very slowly-only a few centimeters a day. Some, though, can move 50 meters (160 feet) a day. These fast-moving rivers of ice are called galloping glaciers.

Where a glacier meets the coast, it becomes a tidewater glacier. Its leading edge lifts and floats in the water, forming cliffs of ice that may be 60 meters (200 feet) high. Chunks of ice at the edge of the tidewater glacier break away into the water-a process called calving. Calving is a violent process. It results in large waves and loud crashes. Floating chunks of glacial ice, broken off during calving, are called icebergs.
Glacial Features
Although glaciers move slowly, they are extremely powerful. Like huge bulldozers, they plow ahead year after year, crushing, grinding, and toppling almost everything in their paths. Forests, hills, and mountainsides are no match for glaciers.

Sometimes, glaciers form on volcanoes. When these volcanoes erupt, they are especially dangerous. They send floods of water, ice, and rocks over the land and into the atmosphere.

Alpine glaciers begin to flow downhill from bowl-shaped mountain hollows called cirques. As the glaciers overflow the cirque, they move downward. They dig deep into the terrain, forming rugged, dramatic landscapes.

As they move, glaciers erode or wear away the land beneath and around them. Glaciers carry great amounts of soil, rock, and clay. Some of the boulders they carry are as big as houses.

Rocks carried hundreds and even thousands of kilometers by glaciers are called glacial erratics. Glacial erratics differ significantly from the landscape in which they were deposited. The Big Rock, for instance, is a 15,000-ton quartzite boulder near Okotoks, Alberta, Canada. The Big Rock was deposited from what is now northern Alberta, about 1,640 kilometers (500 miles) away, during the last ice age.

Embedded, or stuck, in a glacier's base, these large rocks grind against the ground like the prongs of a rake. They dig long grooves, called striations, in the surface of the Earth. Geologists can tell in what direction an ancient glacier moved by studying striations left in rock.

Glaciers eventually deposit their loads of rock, dirt, and gravel. These materials are called moraine. Piles of moraine dumped at a glacier's end, or snout, are called terminal moraines.

Lateral moraine forms along the side of a glacier. Medial moraine appears as dark lines near the center of the glacier. Supraglacial moraine appears on the surface of the glacier-dirt, dust, leaves, and anything else that falls onto a glacier and sticks. Ogives are frozen "waves," or ridges, on the surface of a glacier.

When glaciers began their final retreat 10,000 years ago, they left behind many landscape features, such as lakes, valleys, and mountains.

Many hollowed-out areas carved by glaciers became lakes. Bowl-shaped cirques, where most alpine glaciers form, became mountain lakes. These alpine lakes are called tarns.

Glaciers can also create lakes by leaving depressions in the earth. The Finger Lakes in the western part of the U.S. state of New York were excavated during the last Ice Age. The lakes were once stream valleys. Along the streams, the glacier scooped out troughs that now contain deep lakes.

Glacial retreat created other features of the landscape. Materials deposited by a glacier as it retreats are called ground moraines. The jumble of rock, gravel, and dirt making up ground moraines is called till. Much of the fertile soil in the Great Plains of North America was formed from layers of till left by ancient ice sheets.

Glacial valleys exist on almost every continent. These valleys are scooped out as a glacier scrapes through them. There are no glaciers in Australia, but Mount Kosciuszko still has glacial valleys from the last Ice Age.

Distinctive mountain formations called aretes and horns are the result of glacial activity. An arête is a sharp ridge of rock that forms when two glaciers collide. Each glacier erodes a glacial valley on either side of the arête. Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana is filled with deep glacial valleys and sharp arêtes.

An arête where three or more glaciers meet to form a peak is called a horn. These tall, singular landforms are also called pyramidal peaks. The Matterhorn in Switzerland and Italy (and its copy in Disneyland, California) is a glacial horn.

Roche moutonnee is a smooth, rounded rock formation created as a glacier crushes and rearranges rocks in its path. Roche moutonnee is visible in many hilly areas as outcroppings of flat rock.

In contrast to alpine glaciers, ice sheets do not create landscape features as they spread. They tend to smooth out the land beneath them.
People and Glaciers
Glaciers provide people with many useful resources. Glacial till provides fertile soil for growing crops. Deposits of sand and gravel are used to make concrete and asphalt.

The most important resource provided by glaciers is freshwater. Many rivers are fed by the melting ice of glaciers. The Gangotri Glacier, one of the largest glaciers in the Himalayan Mountains, is the source of the River">Ganges River. The Ganges is the most important source of freshwater and electricity in India and Bangladesh. (Electricity is created by dams and hydroelectric power plants along the Ganges.)

Some companies link glacial water to clean, fresh taste. Because water has been trapped in the glacier for so long, many people believe it has not been exposed to pollutants that liquid water is exposed to.

Glaciers dug basins for most of the world's lakes and carved much of the Earth's most spectacular mountain scenery. The dramatic, diverse landscape of Yosemite Valley, California, was sculpted entirely by glaciers during the last Ice Age.

Threats to Glaciers

The processes that remove snow, ice, and moraine from a glacier or ice sheet are called ablation. Ablation includes melting, evaporation, erosion, and calving.

Glaciers melt when ice melts more quickly than firn can accumulate. Earth's average temperature has been increasing dramatically for more than a century. Glaciers are important indicators of global warming and climate change in several ways.

Melting ice sheets contribute to rising sea levels. As ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland melt, they raise the level of the ocean. Tons of fresh water are added to the ocean every day. In March 2009, a 160-square-mile piece of the Wilkins Ice Shelf broke off of the Antarctic Peninsula. Large icebergs created by such an event create hazards for shipping.

Large additions of fresh water also change the ocean ecosystem. Organisms, such as many types of corals, depend on salt water for survival. Some corals may not be able to adjust to a more freshwater habitat.

The loss of glacial ice also reduces the amount of fresh water available for plants and animals that need fresh water to survive. Glaciers near the Equator, such as those on the tropical island of Papua or in South America, are especially at risk.

The residents below Chacaltaya Glacier in Bolivia, for instance, depended on the glacier for almost all of their fresh water and electricity. Chacaltaya Glacier provided these resources to La Paz, Bolivia's largest city. Chacaltaya Glacier was also the world's highest ski resort. In 2009, Chacaltaya Glacier melted entirely.

A few glaciers may actually be benefiting from global warming. Although winter temperatures are rising, so is the amount of snowfall in areas like Pakistan's Upper Indus River Basin. Glaciers are growing quickly there.

Less precipitation also affects some glaciers. In 1912, the glaciers on Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro covered 12 square kilometers (4.6 square miles). In 2009, Kilimanjaro's alpine glaciers had shrunk to two square kilometers (0.8 square miles). This reduction is the result of few heavy snowfalls.

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A glacier is a huge mass of ice that moves slowly over land

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Rocks for Kids | Learn all about geology and rocks

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The Rock Cycle | Sedimentary, Metamorphic, Igneous | Learning Made Fun

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You see Abe Lincoln's face. The Grand Canyon. An awesome ancient pyramid. A geologist sees granite, volcanic rock, limestone, and the Earth over millions of years. In other words, rocks.

You can't throw a rock without ... hitting another rock. They're everywhere. Rock creates and shapes the Earth's landscape. It forms our magnificent mountains, shapes the deepest oceans, and safely separates us from the boiling magma beneath our feet! (Okay, technically magma is uber-hot liquid rock. But you don't want to stand on it.)

Water, wind, earthquakes, cold, and heat scour, fracture, move, or melt rock. Rock is continuously being changed, rebuilt, or recycled by the forces of the Earth.

Granite, limestone, marble, and sandstone are examples of kinds of rock. Geologists divide rocks into three large groups: igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary. Lava or magma form igneous rock. Changes in pressure or heat create metamorphic rock. Water and wind create sedimentary rock. (Each rock group includes hundreds of different kinds of rocks.)

Like the world's oldest blog, rock reveals millions of years of events and change. It shares how and when the earth's features, like mountains, oceans, or canyons were shaped. In a way, embedded fossils provide a selfie or picture of the environment at the time the rock was formed. Rock: rockin' the Earth for 4.55 billion years!

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You see Abe Lincoln's face. The Grand Canyon. An awesome ancient pyramid. A geologist sees granite, volcanic rock, limestone, and the Earth over millions of years. In other words, rocks. You can't throw a rock without ... hitting another rock. They're everywhere. Rock creates and shapes the Earth's landscape.

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Earth Science for Kids: Rocks, Rock Cycle, and Formation

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Kids learn about the science of rocks and the rock cycle. How different types such as igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic form from minerals with the help of nature.

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Weathering, Erosion, Deposition? What’s the Difference? | Spot on Science | PBS LearningMedia

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What is weathering, erosion, and deposition? Margaret heads to Lake Erie to explain the difference between these three environmental impacts.

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TPWDiscover | Weathering, Erosion and Deposition in West Texas

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Kids learn about the Earth science subject of erosion including water, wind, and glacial erosion, fun facts, human causes, and controlling it.

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The next time you're in the mountains, pay attention to the rocks. You'll probably notice areas near the base of the mountains where piles of crushed rock and rubble lay. These areas are called scree slopes and they're caused by ice constantly cracking and weathering the rocks.

What happens to all these tiny pieces of sediment, though? Rains wash the sediment into streams. Winds may blow them away. Sometimes, wind, water and sand can completely change the face of the landscape, creating caves, tunnels or pillars. This process of erosion constantly changes the landscape.

Fun Facts about Erosion for Kids

Flash floods, rivers and streams can slowly erode rock, carving caves and crevices. The minerals in the water act like sandpaper on the rock, slowly scouring it away.

Small bits of rock wash into rivers. As they move downstream, they scrape and soften larger rocks. They also break down into smaller pieces known as silt.

In the desert, high winds send tiny rock particles hurling through the air. These particles change and shape rocks in the landscape.

Glaciers can rip away rock fragments as they move across the Earth. They can also carve valleys into the land.

In the desert and along beaches, the wind may blow the sand into dunes, or hills.

Erosion Vocabulary

1. Scree slope: a slope near the base of a mountain made of bits of rocks

2. Sediment: tiny pieces of mud, rocks, clay, minerals or other debris

3. Erosion: the process of continuously wearing away

Learn More All about Erosion

Here's a great video for kids on erosion:

An animated kid's show that explains what erosion is.

Erosion Q&A

Question: Do we ever cause erosion?

Answer: Unfortunately, all the time. Any time humans disturb the Earth, we can potentially cause erosion. If we strip the land for farming or building, winds can blow the dirt away. In the 1930s, drought and poor farming practices caused the Dust Bowl, the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history.

Enjoyed the Easy Geography for Kids all about Erosion info? Take the FREE & fun Erosion quiz and download FREE Erosion worksheet for kids. For lengthy info click here.

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The next time you're in the mountains, pay attention to the rocks. You'll probably notice areas near the base of the mountains where piles of crushed rock and rubble lay. These areas are called scree slopes and they're caused by ice constantly cracking and weathering the rocks.

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What is Deposition? Imagine you’re playing a game of ‘move the sand’ where you pick up tiny bits of sand from one part of your sandbox and drop them off in another spot. That’s kind of what deposition is! It’s when Mother Nature moves little pieces of rock, soil, or sand and gives them a […]

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They can speed across the ocean as fast as a jet plane, swallow up islands and wipe out villages.

But what causes tsuamis...? Join National Geographic Kids and dive into our tsunami facts to find out!

What causes a tsunami?

Meaning " great harbour wave" in Japanese, tsunamis are sometimes called "tidal waves" but their strength has nothing to do with the tides. About four out of five tsunamis happen within the Ring Of Fire, a zone in the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions frequently take place.

Giant slabs of the Earth's crust, called tectonic plates, grind together. Sometimes, though, the plates get stuck, the pressure builds up and they suddenly slam into a new position. This causes an earthquake. If an earthquake lifts or drops part of the ocean floor, the water above rises and starts spreading across the ocean, causing a tsunami. Underwater landslides or volcanic eruptions can also displace water (cause water to spread across the ocean) and may lead to a tsunami.

How big is a tsunami?

Out in the open ocean, tsunami waves are only about one-metre high because the water is deep. However, as the water becomes shallow, the waves slow down and begin to grow. They can rise 35m or higher - that's the same as a 10-floor block of flats! However, the scariest thing about a tsunami is its wavelength, as this determines how far inland it can travel. Whereas a large wave caused by a storm might have a wavelength of up to 150m, a tsunami could reach up to a fearsome 1,000km!

How fast is a tsunami?

A normal wind wave travels at about 90kmh, but a tsunami can race across the ocean at an incredible 970kmh! Sometimes, before a tsunami hits, there is a huge vacuum effect, sucking water from harbours and beaches. People can see the ocean floor littered with flopping fish and other sea animals. Then a wave blasts onto the shore minutes later, then another and another for two hours or more. There may also be up to one hour between each wave.

Can you predict when a tsunami is coming?

To save lives, scientists established the Pacific Tsunami Warning System, based in Hawaii, in the USA. Its network of detectors can track quakes that may cause a tsunami. These waves can race from one side of the Pacific Ocean to the other in less than a day, so people need to be warned in time to head for higher ground!

What do you think of these tsunami facts? Let us know by leaving a comment, below!

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Tsunami facts: check out the mighty wave! - National Geographic Kids

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They can speed across the ocean as fast as a jet plane, swallow up islands and wipe out villages. But what causes tsuamis...? Join National Geographic Kids and dive into our tsunami facts to find out! Meaning " great harbour wave" in Japanese, tsunamis are sometimes called "tidal waves" but their strength has nothing to do with the tides.

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Tsunami Facts For Kids | What is a Tsunami?

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Natural disasters, both on land and under the ocean, may cause deadly ocean waves called tsunamis. By the time a tsunami reaches shore, it has gained tremendous size and…

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What is a tsunami?A tsunami is a large ocean wave usually caused by an underwater earthquake or a volcanic explosion. Tsunamis are NOT tidal waves. Tidal waves are caused by the forces of the moon, sun, and planets upon the tides, as well as the wind as it moves over the water. With typical waves, water flows in circles, but with a tsunami, water flows straight. This is why tsunamis cause so much damage!How are tsunamis generated?Tsunamis are generated by any large, impulsive displacement of the sea level. The most common cause of a tsunami is sea floor uplift associated with an earthquake. Tsunamis are also triggered by landslides into or under the water surface, and can be generated by volcanic activity and meteorite impacts.How often do tsunamis occur?On the average, two tsunamis occur per year throughout the world which inflict damage near the source. Approximately every 15 years a destructive, ocean-wide tsunami occurs.Can strike-slip (horizontal motion) earthquakes trigger tsunamis?Yes, approximately 10-15% of damaging tsunamis are triggered by strike-slip earthquakes. This type of earthquake is less likely to trigger a tsunami than one with vertical motion. The waves are likely generated by associated landslides or motion of a sloping bathymetric feature. Tsunamis generated by strike-slip earthquakes normally affect regions near the source only.What does the word “tsunami” mean?Tsunami (soo-NAH-mee) is a Japanese word meaning harbor wave.How fast do tsunamis travel?Tsunami velocity depends on the depth of water through which it travels. Velocity equals the square root of the product of the water depth times the acceleration of gravity. Tsunamis travel approximately 475 mph in 15,000 feet of water. In 100 feet of water the velocity drops to about 40 mph.Did you know…A tsunami travels from the central Aleutian Islands to Hawaii in about 5 hours and to California in about 6 hours, or from the Portugal coast to North Carolina in about 8.5 hours.

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A tsunami is a natural disaster which is a series of fast-moving waves in the ocean caused by powerful earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, or simply an asteroid or a meteor crash inside the ocean. A tsunami has a very long wavelength. It can be hundreds of kilometers long. Usually, a tsunami starts suddenly. The waves travel at a great speed across an ocean with little energy loss. They can remove sand from beaches, destroy trees, toss and drag vehicles, houses and even destroy whole towns. Tsunamis can even be caused when a meteorite strikes the earth's surface, though it is very rare. A tsunami normally occurs in the Pacific Ocean, especially in what is called the ring of fire, but can occur in any large body of water.

The water often draws back from the seacoast half of the wave period prior to the wave getting to the coast. If the slope of the coast is not steep, the water may pull back for hundreds of meters. People who do not know of the danger often remain at the shore.

Tsunamis cannot be prevented. However, there are ways to help stop people dying from a tsunami. International and regional warning systems, especially for the Pacific Ocean, issue alerts before the big waves reach the shore. Because the earthquake that caused the tsunami can be felt before the wave gets to the shore, people can be warned to go somewhere safe.

Tsunamis are often called tidal waves because they usually rise and fall more slowly than ordinary ocean surface waves. This name is misleading, because tsunamis are not related to tides; they merely rise slowly as a series of fast-moving waves in the ocean caused by powerful earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.

The deadliest tsunami recorded in documented history was on 26 December 2004, and is known as the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. It was caused by an earthquake. The earthquake was said to have a magnitude of 9.3 on the Moment magnitude scale. It was centered in the ocean near the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. Over 215,000 people, mainly on the shores of the Indian Ocean, died from this disaster. The giant wave moved very quickly. Thousands of people in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, Somalia, and other nations, were killed or injured by it.

Yet, the most expensive tsunami ever was the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. It is said to have cost the Japanese government around $150 billion, which is equivalent to about 12 trillion yen. It went a huge distance in inland, and is also the 4th largest tsunami in history.

There is another type of tsunami known as a megatsunami, which is mainly due to external impact on the ocean, like an asteroid or meteor crash, a landslide, a rockslide etc.

While Japan may have the longest recorded history of tsunamis, the sheer destruction caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami event mark it as the most devastating of its kind in modern times, killing around 230,000 people. The Sumatran region is also accustomed to tsunamis, with earthquakes of varying magnitudes regularly occurring off the coast of the island.

Of historical and current importance are the 1755 Lisbon earthquake and tsunami (which was caused by the Azores-Gibraltar Transform Fault), the 1783 Calabrian earthquakes, each causing several tens of thousands of deaths and the 1908 Messina earthquake and tsunami. The tsunami claimed more than 123,000 lives in Sicily and Calabria and is among the most deadly natural disasters in modern Europe. The Storegga Slide in the Norwegian Sea and some examples of tsunamis affecting the British Isles refer to landslide and meteotsunamis predominantly and less to earthquake-induced waves.

As early as 426 BC the Greek historian Thucydides inquired in his book History of the Peloponnesian War about the causes of tsunami, and was the first to argue that ocean earthquakes must be the cause.

The Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus ( Res Gestae 26.10.15-19) described the typical sequence of a tsunami, including an earthquake, the sudden retreat of the sea and a following gigantic wave, after the 365 AD tsunami devastated Alexandria.

The principal generation mechanism of a tsunami is the displacement of a substantial volume of water. This displacement of water is usually attributed to either earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, glacier calvings or more rarely by meteorites and nuclear tests.

Earthquakes

Tsunamis can be generated when the sea floor abruptly deforms and vertically displaces the overlying water.

Tectonic earthquakes are a particular kind of earthquake that are associated with the Earth's crust deforming; when these earthquakes occur beneath the sea, the water above the deformed area is displaced. Movement on normal faults can also cause displacement of the seabed, but only the largest of such events cause enough displacement to cause a significant tsunami, such as the 1977 Sumba and 1933 Sanriku events.

Tsunamis have a small wave height offshore, and a very long wavelength (often hundreds of kilometres long, whereas normal ocean waves have a wavelength of only 30 or 40 metres), which is why they generally pass unnoticed at sea, forming only a slight swell usually about 300 millimetres (12 in) above the normal sea surface. They grow in height when they reach shallower water. A tsunami can occur in any tidal state and even at low tide can still inundate coastal areas.

Landslides

In the 1950s, it was discovered that tsunamis larger than had previously been believed possible can be caused by giant submarine landslides.

These rapidly displace large water volumes, as energy transfers to the water at a rate faster than the water can absorb.

Scientists named these waves megatsunamis.

Meteorological

Some meteorological conditions, especially rapid changes in barometric pressure, as seen with the passing of a front, can displace bodies of water enough to cause trains of waves with wavelengths like seismic tsunamis, but usually with lower energies.

Man-made or triggered tsunamis

There have been studies and one actual attempt to create tsunami waves as a tectonic weapon.

In World War II, the New Zealand Military Forces initiated Project Seal, which attempted to create small tsunamis with explosives in the area of today's Shakespear Regional Park; the attempt failed.

Tsunamis are made by permanent large vertical displacements of very large volumes of water which do not occur in explosions.

Surviving tsunamis

Tsunamis are very strong and can go many kilometers inland. Around 5 to 10 minutes before a tsunami hits, the sea seems to go back by an unusual distance. This is a warning that a tsunami can occur.

The best way to evacuate is to climb to an elevated area. If a person notices strange or unusual behavior in animals, he/she can also take that as a warning and go inland. However, if it still looks like the wave can absorb the person, the most suitable alternative will be to hold on to something sturdy, like a tree, so he/she does not totally get carried away and injured.

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Images for kids

In Spanish: Tsunami para niños

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