S07 → N400
The Spike of Fascinating & Unexpected
SPIKE 02
→ VOLCANO.
© 1. A.P. Khrenov — Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka (1976) / 2. NASA — Raikoke, Kuril Islands (from the ISS) / 3. U.S. Geological Survey — Mount St. Helens, Washington (1980) / 4. Katia and Maurice Krafft — Krafla (1984) / 5. Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History — Tengger Caldera’s Bromo cone / 6. R. Bhardwaj — Bárcena, San Benedicto Island / 7. MAXAR — Mount Raung, Java / 8. jshyun (flickr) — Hawaii Volcanoes National Park / 9. Douglas Peebles/Corbis — Kilauea Volcano / 10. Oliver Spalt — Mount Rinjani (1994) / 11. Vilhelm Gunnarsson & EPA — Eyjafjallajökull.
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The soil around volcanic areas is often extremely fertile. This fertility is due to the rich minerals found in volcanic ash and lava, which decompose and mix with the soil. As a result, regions surrounding volcanoes, like the slopes of Mount Vesuvius and the volcanic islands of Indonesia, are renowned for their lush vegetation and productive agriculture. Indeed, the volcanic soil supports the growth of various crops, such as grapes for wine production in Italy and coffee in Indonesia.
Interestingly, a volcanic lightning phenomenon known as a “dirty thunderstorm” occurs when lightning is produced in the volcanic plume during an eruption. The ash and particles ejected into the atmosphere create static electricity, leading to spectacular lightning bolts. One of the most famous instances of volcanic lightning was observed during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 1944 and, more recently, during the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland in 2010.
Several scientists helped understand volcanic activity. Among them, the Krafft spouses, Maurice and Katia, were renowned French volcanologists who dedicated their lives to studying these natural phenomena. They travelled the world, documenting eruptions and collecting data, often putting themselves in extreme danger to capture close-up footage and samples. Their work provided invaluable insights into volcanic behaviour, eruption patterns, and the associated risks. Tragically, Maurice and Katia Krafft lost their lives on June 3, 1991, during the eruption of Mount Unzen in Japan.
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→ Sourced from: SYSTEM 04 (Poutchka Patrol)
→ Stored online: N400 Spikes Repository
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→ Search log: Google images / Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program
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