ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Volcano Number

Okay, kiddo, do you know what a volcano is? It's a mountain that can sometimes erupt and spit out hot ash, lava, and gases. Scientists study volcanoes and give them numbers to help keep track of them.

Think of it like naming your toy cars or dolls. Just like you give different names to each of your toys, scientists give different numbers to each volcano they study.

The numbers they use are based on how often the volcano has erupted in the past and how much damage it caused. For example, a volcano that has erupted a lot and caused a lot of damage might get a higher number than one that has only erupted once and caused small damage.

Scientists use these numbers to keep track of how active volcanoes are, how likely they are to erupt, and how dangerous they could be if they do. They use this information to help keep people safe by warning them to stay away when a volcano is about to erupt.

So, there you have it! Volcano numbers are just a way for scientists to keep track of different volcanoes and understand which ones are more likely to erupt and cause big problems.