Which term matches the definition: explosive eruptions shoot large volumes of rock and glass into the air?

• A. Ash Fall
• B. Lava Flow
• C. Mudflows
• D. Pyroclastic Flow

Answer: (A)

Explosive volcanic activity throws tephra—rock fragments and volcanic glass—into the atmosphere. When that material settles back to the ground over an area, it forms a layer of volcanic ash. This deposition is what we call ash fall. The term fits the idea of material being expelled into the air by an eruption and then landing across surrounding surfaces.

Lava flow refers to molten rock moving on the surface, not ejecta. Mudflows are water-saturated debris flows. Pyroclastic flow is a hot, fast-moving cloud of gas and tephra that travels along the ground, not just the airborne ejecta that later settles. This question’s description aligns with ash fall, the deposition of erupted rock and glass after explosive activity.