Which term refers to explosive eruptions that 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 hurls pyroclasts—rock and glass fragments—into the air, and the best term among these options that captures that explosive ejection and subsequent rapid movement is pyroclastic flow. This describes the hot gas and volcanic material that race down the mountain during an eruption, effectively embodying the idea of large fragments being expelled. Ash fall refers to the deposition of fine ash after the eruption, not the act of throwing material into the air; lava flow involves molten rock that moves as a liquid, and mudflows are water-laden debris flows.