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. It is a component of the gastric acid in the digesti ...

), 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, 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, ...

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

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