Question
Consider the following:
1. Pyroclastic debris
2. Ash and dust
3. Nitrogen compounds
4. Sulphur compounds
How many of the above are products of volcanic eruptions?
Explanation
A volcanic eruption expels a diverse mix of solid, molten, and gaseous materials from the Earth’s interior onto the surface and into the atmosphere. According to NCERT (Fundamentals of Physical Geography), the erupted matter broadly includes molten lava flows, tephra and solid rock fragments, along with a significant volume of volatile gases dominated by water vapour, followed by carbon dioxide, sulphur compounds, and minor trace gases.
* 1. Pyroclastic debris — Correct: Pyroclastic material (tephra) refers to all fragmented solid rock, pumice, and molten clots ejected explosively into the air. These range in size from massive volcanic blocks and aerodynamic bombs down to small lapilli.
* 2. Ash and dust — Correct: Volcanic ash and dust represent the finest pulverized particles of rock, minerals, and volcanic glass (less than 2 mm in diameter). They are blasted into high-altitude eruption plumes and can remain suspended in the atmosphere across global distances.
* 3. Nitrogen compounds — Correct: Volcanic degassing expels various nitrogen species alongside primary volatiles. Magmatic emissions release molecular nitrogen (N₂), ammonia (NH₃), and trace nitrogen oxides, which NCERT explicitly classifies under eruptive gaseous products alongside chlorine and argon.
* 4. Sulphur compounds — Correct: Sulphur is among the most prominent volatile components discharged by active volcanoes. It is predominantly emitted as sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), which can react in the stratosphere to generate reflective sulphate aerosols.
Therefore, All four are products of volcanic eruptions.
Hence, Option (d) is the correct answer.