What is Volcanic ash?

Volcanic ash is tiny pieces of rock and glass that come out of a volcano when it erupts.

Imagine you're playing in a sandbox, and someone throws a big pile of wet sand into the air. The sand goes everywhere, some falls on your face, some lands near your feet, and some even floats on the wind like tiny little clouds. That’s kind of what happens with volcanic ash.

When a volcano erupts, it sends out hot rock, gas, and ash, which is just really small pieces of broken-up rock and glass. These bits are so small that they can float in the air for days or even weeks, like smoke from a fire.

If you've ever touched sand at the beach, you know how it feels, gritty and tiny. Volcanic ash is kind of like that, but it’s hot when it first comes out, and it can make your skin feel like it's been rubbed with a rough towel.

Sometimes, volcanic ash falls from the sky in big clouds, covering everything, just like snow, but it's rocky instead of fluffy.