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Volcanoes erupt when molten rock called magma rises to the surface. Magma is formed when the earth's mantle melts. ... If magma is thick, gas bubbles cannot easily escape and pressure builds up as the magma rises. When the pressure is too much an explosive eruption can happen, which can be dangerous and destructive.
- What causes a volcano to explode?
- What happens when volcanoes explode?
- Why is lava explosive?
- How hot is lava?
- Are volcanoes real?
- Can an extinct volcano erupt?
- When volcanoes erupt they often do so very violently?
- Can you survive a volcanic eruption?
- Can anything stop lava?
- How long does an explosive eruption last?
- Can you drive through lava?
- Why do some volcanoes explode more violently than others?
- Why don t all volcanoes explode?
What causes a volcano to explode?
Although there are several factors triggering a volcanic eruption, three predominate: the buoyancy of the magma, the pressure from the exsolved gases in the magma and the injection of a new batch of magma into an already filled magma chamber.
What happens when volcanoes explode?
Explosive volcanic eruptions can be dangerous and deadly. They can blast out clouds of hot tephra from the side or top of a volcano. These fiery clouds race down mountainsides destroying almost everything in their path. Ash erupted into the sky falls back to Earth like powdery snow.
Why is lava explosive?
The standard explanation for explosive volcanism is that as liquid magma rises from a magma chamber at a depth of several miles, dissolved gases - mostly water - form bubbles. These bubbles grow in size, because the pressure in the surrounding magma decreases as it rises toward the surface.
How hot is lava?
The temperature of lava flow is usually about 700° to 1,250° Celsius, which is 2,000° Fahrenheit. Deep inside the earth, usually at about 150 kilometers, the temperature is hot enough that some small part of the rocks begins to melt. Once that happens, the magma (molten rock) will rise toward the surface (it floats).
Are volcanoes real?
There are volcanoes on every continent, even Antarctica. Some 1,500 volcanoes are still considered potentially active around the world today; 161 of those—over 10 percent—sit within the boundaries of the United States. But each volcano is different.
Can an extinct volcano erupt?
Active volcanoes have a recent history of eruptions; they are likely to erupt again. Dormant volcanoes have not erupted for a very long time but may erupt at a future time. Extinct volcanoes are not expected to erupt in the future.
When volcanoes erupt they often do so very violently?
Caldera volcanoes
It tends to erupt so violently its top collapses and leaves a large basin shape in its place. The collapse leads to widespread fallout of ash and other hazards. Some caldera volcanoes are up to 90 kilometres across and are called supervolcanoes.
Can you survive a volcanic eruption?
If a volcano is going to erupt, nothing on earth can keep it from happening, but you can survive an eruption by getting as far away as possible or going to a shelter.
Can anything stop lava?
There is no way to stop the flow of lava, scientists say. ... They did, however, have some success in diverting the lava from the island's harbor, but they were unable to stop the flow. That eruption killed one person and destroyed portions of several towns.
How long does an explosive eruption last?
According to the Smithsonian Institute's Global Volcanism Program, the median length of time for a single eruption is seven weeks.
Can you drive through lava?
A: No. Any attempt to drive across an active lava flow, even one that has partly solidified to form a thin crust, is likely to lead to disaster. With a temperature of 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, fresh lava will quickly melt rubber tires and ignite gas tanks.
Why do some volcanoes explode more violently than others?
Some volcanic eruptions are more dangerous than others, says Dr. ... Molten rock, or magma, comes under pressure, but it's how that pressure is released that determines whether the volcano will create a violent, sudden eruption or not, she says. "If the magma is very sticky, very viscus, it will explode.
Why don t all volcanoes explode?
The magma usually erupts as a lava flow rather than exploding because the gases in the magma cannot expand and fragment the rock. Even very large deepwater eruptions may not disturb the surface of the ocean.
