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Volcanic
eruptions have many effects on the surrounding environment. When a
volcano erupts, ash and debris is shot into the air and briefly cools the
planet. Greenhouse gases are also released. Areas near the eruption
are affected by the pyroclastic flows and the heat emitted. Volcanoes
can also indicate the presence and location of active tectonic plates. Volcanoes
are common at convergent and divergent plate boundaries, and form lines
along the edges of tectonic plates. At convergent boundaries, the
subducting plate melts and a magma plume rises to erupt on the surface as
volcanoes. Divergent boundaries leave spaces in the plates to be filled
by rising magma.
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