Atmospheric cooling

One of the shorter-term benefits could be observed with recent large

eruptions including 1991’s Pinatubo eruption in the Philippines and
1982’s El Chichón eruption in Mexico, which both exploded ash and
sulfur gas into the stratosphere, according to Gregg.

“The sulfur gas combines with water in the atmosphere, creating

microscopic droplets that can stay in the atmosphere for years,” Gregg
said. “The effect of those aerosol droplets is cooling the lowest level of
the atmosphere, which is the level in which we live and breathe.”

Land formation

A long-term benefit of volcanic activity is seen in the Hawaiian

Islands’ very existence.
“We’re seeing this right now on the Big Island of Hawaii with Kilauea’s
current eruption, as lava is pouring into the ocean and creating new
land,” Gregg said. “All of the land in the Hawaiian Islands was created
this way.” This land formation can take thousands of years, she added.

3. Water production

Over 4.5 billion years, the amount of water that has been produced by
volcanoes has actually given us the water that we have on Earth,
Concord University volcanologist Dr. Janine Krippner told AccuWeather.

“It comes out of steam,” Krippner said. “Over time, it’s just built up the
water that we have on this planet. Water can actually come out of
magma itself, as well.”

Volcanoes have also helped create a large portion of

Earth’s atmosphere, she added.
4. Fertile land

Fertile soil is another advantage of volcanic activity. “In places like

Japan, Indonesia, Philippines and Hawaii, volcanic material mixed in
with the soil provides a lot of important nutrients,” Krippner said. “It gives
us really fertile soils, which are great for farming and crops.”
Volcanoes also provide a good environment for the formation of new
habitats for animals, plants and insects, she said.

5. Geothermal energy

Hot springs and geothermal energy are additional benefits. “People use
geothermal energy in places like New Zealand and Iceland,” Krippner
said.

Places on Earth with the highest underground temperatures are located

in regions with active or geologically young volcanoes, according to the
Union of Concerned Scientists.
The most active geothermal resources are normally found along major
plate boundaries where volcanoes and earthquakes typically occur, like
the Ring of Fire, according to the University of Colorado Boulder.
6. Raw materials

Sulfur, copper and gold are produced from volcanic activity, Krippner
said. Diamonds are also brought up to the surface from the mantle from
a rare kind of magma, called kimberlite.