PowerPoint Show by Andrew

Once again, it has been a particularly eventful year for the world's volcanoes. Out of an estimated 1,500 active volcanoes, 50 or so erupt every year, spewing steam, ash, toxic gases, and lava.

In 2014, erupting volcanoes included Mount Sinabung, Mount Kelud, and Sangeang Api in Indonesia, Bardarbunga in Iceland, Mount Ontake in Japan, Tungurahua in Ecuador, Pico do Fogo in Cape Verde, Mount Etna and Stromboli in Italy, Pavlof in Alaska, and Kilauea in Hawaii. Collected below are scenes from the wide variety of volcanic activity on Earth over the past year.

Mount Sinabung spews pyroclastic gas and ash, seen from Tiga Pancur village on October 13, 2014 in Berastagi, Karo district, North Sumatra, Indonesia.

Lava explodes from the Pico do Fogo volcano next to the village of Portela on Fogo Island, Cape Verde, on November 28, 2014.

A giant cloud of ash and steam rise from erupting Sangeang Api volcano seen from Bima town on Sumbawa island, Indonesia, on May 30, 2014.

Steam and ash rise from the Bardarbunga volcano in southeast Iceland on September 14, 2014.

An aerial picture taken on September 14, 2014 shows lava flowing out of the Bardarbunga volcano in southeast Iceland.

A plane flies over the Bardarbunga volcano spewing lava and steam in southeast Iceland on September 14, 2014.

Smoke rises from the lava eruption on Holuhraun, northwest of the Dyngjujoekull glacier in Iceland, on September 1, 2014.

Volcanic ash covers a plane and the airport of Solo in Central Java about 150 kilometers (93 miles) west of Mount Kelud volcano on February 14, 2014.

Residents evacuate under a massive plume of hot ash clouds spewing from Mount Kelud volcano in East Java province on February 14, 2014.

The Tungurahua volcano throws ash and stones during an eruption seen from Banos, Ecuador, on August 31, 2014.

In this April 4, 2014 photo, the Tungurahua volcano spews a column of ash as seen from Ambato, Ecuador.

Lava from the Stromboli volcano in Italy explosively meets the sea on August 9, 2014.

A picture taken on June 21, 2014 shows lava flowing out of the Piton de la Fournaise volcano, one of the world's most active volcanoes, located on the French island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean.

A pyroclastic flow races down the side of Mount Sinabung during an eruption near Karo, North Sumatra on January 7, 2014.

Two boys wear plastic bags to cover their face from ash following a further eruption of Mount Sinabung on January 4, 2014 in North Sumatra.

A photographer runs as Mount Sinabung erupts with ash clouds, as seen from Karo District on Sumatra island on October 25, 2014.

A cat sits in an area covered by ash following an eruption of Mount Sinabung in Sebintun village on January 9, 2014 in Karo District, North Sumatra.

This long exposure photograph taken before dawn on October 14, 2014 shows sparks of lightning, scorching lava flow and giant ash clouds released from the crater during the eruption of Mount Sinabung on Sumatra island.

Nine months after a new island broke through the surface of the western Pacific Ocean, the volcanic eruption at Nishino-shima continues.

Lava flows from Mount Etna on the southern Italian island of Sicily near Catania on August 14, 2014.

A cloud of ash and vapor spewed by the Tungurahua volcano can be seen from the city of Riobamba, Ecuador, on February 1, 2014.

Steam and volcanic gases rise from Mount Ontake in Japan on September 27, 2014.

Climbers descend Mount Ontake, fleeing volcanic ash on September 27, 2014.

Japan soldiers and firefighters work among mountain lodges covered with volcanic ash near the peak of Mount Ontake on September 28, 2014.

Firefighters carry a hiker trapped in the summit area of Mount Ontake during Saturday's initial eruption in central Japan, on September 28, 2014.

Lava from an upstream lobe of the June 27 lava flow overcomes a fence near the town of Pahoa, Hawaii, on October 31, 2014.

Lava flow from the Kilauea Volcano passes through a fence to the Pahoa transfer station in Pahoa, Hawaii, on November 16, 2014.