The Volcano

Lore & Background

The word volcano originates from the early 17th century, derived from the Italian name of a volcanic island in the Aeolian Islands of Italy, which in turn comes from the Latin name referring to Vulcan, the god of fire in Roman mythology. The study of volcanism and volcanoes is called volcanology.

Reader's Guide

Volcanoes, based on their frequency of eruption, are referred to as either active, dormant, or extinct. Active volcanoes have a history of volcanism and are likely to erupt again, while extinct ones are not capable of eruption at all. Dormant volcanoes have not erupted since the start of the Holocene, about 12,000 years ago, but may erupt again.

Did You Know?

• Most volcanoes on Earth are found underwater because most plate boundaries are underwater.
• Volcanoes can also form where there is stretching and thinning of the crust's plates, such as in the East African Rift.
• Large eruptions can affect atmospheric temperature as ash and droplets of sulfuric acid obscure the Sun and cool Earth's troposphere.