Go Deeper For parents & teachers
A suspension of fragmented volcanic particles — glass, rock, and mineral grains — in the atmosphere, lofted by an explosive eruption. Large ash clouds that reach the stratosphere can persist for weeks to years, cooling surface temperatures (the 'year without a summer' after Tambora in 1815 is the canonical case). Aviation is particularly vulnerable: silicate ash ingested by jet engines melts and fuses onto turbine blades, causing thrust loss. This is why air-traffic authorities close airspace over active volcanic plumes.
Appears In
The Burning Mountain Chapter 13 — The Cubs Who Helped Save the Mountain
"Through a break in the ash cloud, a new red glow showed where no glow had been - lower, broader, and moving."
See Also