Are we being reckless? A huge volcano could erupt on Earth in the next 100 years, scientists say. Do we need to do more to get ready for an event that will change our lives forever?
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World at risk from huge volcano, says study
Are we being reckless? A huge volcano could erupt on Earth in the next 100 years, scientists say. Do we need to do more to get ready for an event that will change our lives forever?
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What's happening?
The year started badly for people in TongaAn archipelago of islands and Polynesian kingdom in the South Pacific. . A volcanoA mountain which can send out ash, lava and gas from the Earth. , hidden underwater, eruptedWhen a volcano suddenly sends out ash, lava and gases into the sky. , sending ashAsh from a volcano is a mixture of rock, minerals and glass. The particles are very small - less than two millimetres wide. high into the sky. The boom could be heard far away in Alaska.
Their problems got worse, not better. The volcano caused a huge wave called a tsunamiA Japanese word describing a succession of waves caused when an earthquake or volcano displaces a large body of water.. The islands of Tonga were flooded with sea water.
Now, scientists say worse could be coming. Another huge volcano, perhaps 10 or even 100 times larger than the one in Tonga, could erupt in the next 100 years.
This could make life very hard for people across the world. It could stop farmers' plants from growing and ash in the sky could make the planet colder.
Find out more
Some people say we need to start getting ready now, before the eruption happens.
Are we being reckless?
Yes! We have not done enough to get ready for a huge volcano. We are getting ready for global warmingThe Earth is getting hotter due to climate change., but not this.
No! There are a lot of things that could change the world. Scientists do not know for sure if the volcano will erupt. We should spend our time on other things.
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Keywords
Tonga - An archipelago of islands and Polynesian kingdom in the South Pacific.
Volcano - A mountain which can send out ash, lava and gas from the Earth.
Erupted - When a volcano suddenly sends out ash, lava and gases into the sky.
Ash - Ash from a volcano is a mixture of rock, minerals and glass. The particles are very small - less than two millimetres wide.
Tsunami - A Japanese word describing a succession of waves caused when an earthquake or volcano displaces a large body of water.
Global warming - The Earth is getting hotter due to climate change.
World at risk from huge volcano, says study
Glossary
Tonga - An archipelago of islands and Polynesian kingdom in the South Pacific.
Volcano - A mountain which can send out ash, lava and gas from the Earth.
Erupted - When a volcano suddenly sends out ash, lava and gases into the sky.
Ash - Ash from a volcano is a mixture of rock, minerals and glass. The particles are very small – less than two millimetres wide.
Tsunami - A Japanese word describing a succession of waves caused when an earthquake or volcano displaces a large body of water.
Global warming - The Earth is getting hotter due to climate change.