are volcano's a sort of safety valve for the planet?

Answer 1

Absolutely not. Safety valves vent off pressure in a harmless way. Since when do volcanic eruptions qualify as harmless.

Old faith-full and hot springs in the mountains could be considered the earth's safety valves. Certainly not Mount St. Helen's, Krakatoa or Mount Pinatubo.

Answer 2

Volcanoes are the earths way of rejuvenation, that and Earthquakes, Tsunami's, and the shifting of the Teutonic Plates,Mudslides and Hurricanes. Over X millions of years the earth turns itself inside out, sort of ploughing the fields if you like, after all homebody's got to clean up the rubbish we leave lying around.

Answer 3

In a way, yes. Volcanoes releases built-up pressure under the earth. Otherwise we would have mega-volcanic eruptions that would be catastrophic event with unimaginable proportions if it happen.

Answer 4

May be. But,why does then earth require so many safety valves?You can say it in a better way.They are the "weak links" of a chain.

Answer 5

Yes. If they weren't there the earth's skin would be continually fracturing as rocks and gases under vast pressures try to get out.

Answer 6

yes, you have seem a pressure cooker it lets off steam and that is about what a volcano's do only loader and a lot more dangerous.

Answer 7

They could be. They would release any pressure built up when the platelets rub against each other.

Answer 8

Yes, that is exactly what they are.

But it's ok, the Mermaid Fire-brigade are there to keep them in order.

Answer 9

What, like the earth's farts?