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 It is important to know about volcanoes because volcanoes spew hot,

dangerous gases, ash, lava, and rock that are powerfully destructive
and it can kill you.
 We should care because if a volcano erupts around where we live,
we would know how to protect ourselves from it.
 It's extremely important. There are obvious hazards to nearby
residents. Beyond human safety, there are huge economic concerns.
It's not that eruptions can be stopped, but, like a hurricane, it's good
to know when it's coming.

Associated with the monitoring is research of the surrounding area to

see where previous lava flows have gone and to see where previous
ash fall has occurred. So you get some idea of the history of the
volcano and the types of eruptions it typically has. Each volcano is
different, so you have to do individual research and individual
monitoring.

There's a huge hazard in the air from eruption plumes. Volcanic ash is
not like ash from the fireplace. It's basically pulverized rocks and
glass particles. Putting glass in a jet engine isn't good. That's why the
monitoring in Alaska is extremely important to the aviation industry.

Volcanic eruptions are one of Earth's most dramatic and violent agents of
change. Not only can powerful explosive eruptions drastically alter land and
water for tens of kilometers around a volcano, but tiny liquid droplets of
sulfuric acid erupted into the stratosphere can change our planet's climate
temporarily. Eruptions often force people living near volcanoes to abandon
their land and homes, sometimes forever. Farther away, cities, crops,
industrial plants, transportation systems, airplanes, and electrical grids can
still be damaged by tephra, ash, lahars, and flooding.

It's very important to learn how to prepare for a volcanic eruption to protect
themselves and their family from the dangers a volcanic eruption can cause. The
best way is to follow the advice of local officials. Local authorities will give the
information on how to prepare for a volcanic eruption, and if necessary, on how
to evacuate. Though it may seem safe to stay at home and wait out an eruption,
doing so could be very dangerous. Volcanoes spew hot, dangerous gases, ash,
lava, and rock that are powerfully dest