What is the impact of a volcanic eruption on the surrounding environment?

The correct answer highlights the dual impact of a volcanic eruption on the environment. A volcanic eruption can lead to a reduction in biodiversity due to the immediate destructive force of lava, ash, and other volcanic materials, which can obliterate vegetation and disrupt local ecosystems. This destruction not only affects flora and fauna in the immediate vicinity but can also lead to longer-term ecological changes, depending on the scale and type of eruption.

At the same time, volcanic eruptions are also responsible for the formation of new landforms. When lava cools, it solidifies into rock, creating new geological features such as mountains, islands, or plateaus. Ash and other volcanic materials can enrich the soil, leading to new habitats for plant and animal life over time. Therefore, the environment undergoes significant changes both negatively, through the loss of species, and positively, through the creation of new landscapes.

This makes the answer encompassing both aspects—reduction in biodiversity and formation of new landforms—correct and representative of the complex ecological dynamics at play during and after a volcanic eruption.