10 Things That Would Happen if Every Volcano on Earth Erupted at Once

The immediate areas would obviously be destroyed

There are two types of volcanic eruptions: effusive eruptions which emit lava and gas, and explosive eruptions which produce ash and gas. Both types of volcanic eruptions would be devastating to the surrounding areas.

Hawaii is home to numerous volcanoes of the effusive variety, meaning that they would emit slow flowing streams of lava which could potentially be outrun in the short term but would do irreparable damage to the islands in time. In places like Java however, where more than 130 million people live within the vicinity of 45 active volcanoes, the effects of the ash alone would be catastrophic.

Rapidly moving, 1800 °F clouds of ash, rock and gas known as pyroclastic flows are emitted during explosive eruptions and can travel as fast as 450 miles per hour. Think you could survive? Outrunning an ash cloud is not an easy task; just ask the citizens of Pompeii.

Aside from lava and ash, another danger after a volcanic eruption is flying rocks. When Mount Ontake erupted in Japan in 2014, all 47 casualties were due to being hit by rocks that were blasted into the air in the wake of the explosion.

Kemal Taner / Shutterstock.com

Kemal Taner / Shutterstock.com

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