Iceland (Land of Fire and Ice) is a volcanically active region as it is situated on Mid-Atlantic Ridge in North Atlantic Ocean, where Eurasian and North American plates are moving apart.
- It is also part of hot-spots, leading to enhanced volcanic activity in the region.
Global Distribution of Volcanoes
- Hotspot is an area of Earth's mantle from which hot plumes rise upward, forming volcanoes on overlying crust.
- Example: Reunion hotspot.
- Circum-Pacific Belt (Ring of Fire) includes more than two-third of volcanoes.
- Example: Mount Ruapehu, New Zealand.
- Divergent Plate Margins where one tectonic plate moves away from another.
- Example: Mid-Atlantic Ridge (longest mountain range in world).
About Volcano
- A vent in earth’s crust through which gases, ashes, molten lava escapes to ground.
- They are found on both land and ocean floor.
- Volcanic eruption released gases like Water vapour, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide etc.
Impact of Volcanoes
- Positive
- Volcanic materials upon weathering form fertile soils. Example: Black soil.
- Rich source of minerals like iron, magnesium etc.
- Negative
- Volcanic ash and gases released increase Earth’s albedo, leading to cooling of Earth.
- Volcanic eruptions can cause infectious diseases (conjunctivitis), chronic respiratory diseases etc.
Types of Volcanoes
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