Laze is acid rain and air pollution arising from steam explosions and large plume clouds containing extremely acidic condensate (mainly

hydrochloric acid Hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid, is an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride. It is a colorless solution with a distinctive pungent smell. It is classified as a strong acid Acid strength is the tendency of an acid, symbol ...

), which occur when molten lava flows enter cold oceans. The term ''laze'' is a

portmanteau A portmanteau word, or portmanteau (, ) is a blend of wordsvog Vog is a form of air pollution that results when sulfur dioxide and other gases and particles emitted by an erupting volcano react with oxygen and moisture in the presence of sunlight. The word is a portmanteau of the words "volcanic" and " sm ...

, which originates from volcanic vents. The extremely high temperatures of lava flows causes sea water to decompose into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen combines with chloride ions dissolved in sea water, forming hydrogen chloride gas (hydrochloric acid). The rapidly rising plume of gas also carries with it fine particles of volcanic glass. The hydrochloric acid and other contaminants can precipitate out rapidly and the plume may become relatively safe a few hundred meters away, however, laze plumes have killed people who come in contact with them. The

USGS The United States Geological Survey (USGS), formerly simply known as the Geological Survey, is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, a ...

has reported that, in 2000, two people were killed by exposure to laze clouds.

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External links

{{volcanology-stub Air pollution Lava flows Weather events in Hawaii