Sample Answer
Introduction
The year 2021 witnessed several volcanic eruptions around the world that disrupted lives, polluted the environment and altered landscapes. Understanding their regional impacts is vital to disaster risk reduction and sustainable development.
Body
Important volcanic activities of 2021 are as follows:
- Iceland MOR emitted fresh lava in 2021.
- Mount Semeru, a volcano in the East Java province of the Indonesian island of Java.
- La Soufrière, a stratovolcano on the Caribbean island, had an explosive eruption.
- Taal Volcano in Batangas, Philippines
- Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai: a submarine volcano in the South Pacific
Impacts on regional environment:
- Advancing Lava (hot and molten) destroyed the natural ecosystem.
- Volcanism is also associated with earthquakes which result in mass movements.
- Drastic reduction in air quality due to release of ash, polluting gases (Carbon, Nitrogen and Sulfur Oxides)
Conclusion
However some of the effects of volcanism are also beneficial. For example release of sulfur aerosols induces cooling, creation of new landforms, creation of mineral resources and opportunities to generate Geo-thermal energy.