Volcanic hazards pose significant threats through direct and indirect effects, causing widespread social, economic, and environmental impacts. The impact of volcanic ash on agriculture, combined with pyroclastic flows and lahars, can devastate communities and ecosystems for generations.
- Volcanic eruptions release dangerous materials including ash, gases, and lava flows that pose immediate threats to life and property
- The economic consequences of volcanic eruptions can reach billions of dollars through infrastructure damage, agricultural losses, and tourism disruption
- The environmental effects of pyroclastic flows include widespread destruction of vegetation, wildlife death, and long-term ecosystem changes
- Indirect hazards like lahars and tsunamis can affect communities far from the volcanic source
- Climate alterations from major eruptions can trigger global temperature changes affecting agriculture worldwide
