VolcanismAny activity that includes the movement of magma towards or onto Earth’s surface

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/discovery-presents/videos/understanding-volcanoes-lava-flow.htm

A vent or fissure in Earth’s surface through which magma and gases are expelled

Volcano:

- Subduction - Rifting - HotspotsVolcanoes are formed by:

Pacific Ring of Fire

Hotspot volcanoes

An area around the Pacific Ocean characterized by volcanoes and seismic activity

Liquid rock produced under the Earth’s surface

MagmaMagma that flows onto the Earth’s surface

Lava

Magma• What is magma? – Magma is a mixture of molten rock,

mineral grains, and dissolved gases formed deep beneath the earth’s surface at high temperatures

• Where does it come from? – From the upper part of the mantle

directly beneath the lithosphere

What factors affect the formation of magma?

1. Temperature -- temps need to be between 800˚C and 1200˚C

2. Pressure – as pressure decreases, the temperature at which a substance melts also decreases

3. Water content of the rocks – rocks melt at lower temperature in the presence of water

4. Composition of the rocks – different types of rock melt at different temperatures

What is Viscosity?

• A substance’s resistance to flow is called its viscosity.

• Ex: cold syrup is more viscous than hot syrup (cold syrup does not flow easily)

• Ex: basaltic magma has lower silica therefore has lower viscosity, so it flows more quickly than Rhyolitic magma which has higher viscosity

Gases in Magma• Most important: Water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sulfur

• Also has: hydrogen (which can combine with oxygen to form steam)

• Amount of gas determines type of eruption– Large amt of gases = more explosive eruptions

• VISCOSITY – (Very Important Term!!!)– Definition: Resistance to Flow• Viscous Magma – like pudding – doesn’t flow well–Determined by High Silica Content - FELSIC

• Non-Viscous Magma – like maple syrup – flows well–Determined by Low Silica Content – MAFIC

Three types of magma Composition

Source Material

ViscosityGas

ContentSilica

ContentExplosive

Location of Magma

BasalticUpper mantle

Low 1 – 2 %About 50%

Least

Both oceanic and continental

crust

Andesitic

Oceanic crust and oceanic

sediments

Intermediate 3 – 4 %About 60%

Intermediate

Continental margins – subduction

zones

RhyoliticContinenta

l crustHigh 4 – 6 %

About 70%

greatestContinental

crust

Lava• What is it?...MOLTEN ROCK ABOVE

GROUND

• A little different than magma b/c some gas escapes, some new materials added

• Also felsic and mafic

– Mafic: gases escape quickly & lava comes out smoother• Pahoehoe – fluid, “ropy”

lava

– Felsic: gases can’t move easily, explosive eruption• Aa – blocky, chunky, lava

that topples over itself

This lava flow is smooth, fluid, and “runny” – What type is it…MAFIC or FELSIC?

Lava Fragments

• Tephra: solid fragments of lava produced by explosive eruptions

–Smallest pieces: ash–Larger pieces: lapilli–Largest pieces: blocks (solid), bombs

(liquid then harden)

Plume

Chamber

Vent

Tephra

Volcanic Hazards• Pyroclastic Flows – clouds of ash, dust, and gases (AKA – Nuee

Ardente – “Glowing Cloud”)

– Move at speeds of up to 200 km/h• Denser than surrounding air – so it stays close to ground• Poisonous• Superheated (5X the temperature of boiling water-~7000C)

• Lahar – heated snow covered mountaintop – snow melts super fast mudslide – more dangerous than nuee ardente (more common)

• Lava Flows – obviously dangerous due to heat – but can be diverted or chilled Ash – threat of suffocation

• Poisonous gases – kill due to toxicity – but the most common and dangerous is CO2 (drives away oxygen)

http://dsc.discovery.com/video-topics/other/other-topics-volcano-videos.htm

Types of Volcanoes• Type of Volcano depends on:– Type of material that forms it and type of eruptions that occur

• We will focus on (3) most common

– Shield Volcano (Mauna Loa)• Mountain with broad, gently sloping sides• Generally non-explosive

– Cinder-Cone Volcano (Izalco – El Salvador)• Material that is ejected high into the air – piles back up around the

vent• Steep sides, but generally small in size• Water and silica laden magmas, and full of gas – somewhat explosive

– Composite Volcano (Mount St. Helens)• Large amounts of water, silica, and gases• VERY LARGE – Due to their large size – pose the greatest threat• These can blow their tops completely off forming a CALDERA – Crater

Lake Oregon

Just to put the size of the Mount Saint Helens eruption in perspective, this figure compares the size of that eruption (as measured by the volume of ejected material) to some bigger ones in the past. Notice how small Mt. St. Helens was compared to the others!!

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/discovery-presents/videos/understanding-volcanoes-lava-flow.htm

Living vs. Dead Volcanoes• Active Volcano: A volcano that is erupting. Also, a

volcano that is not presently erupting, but that has erupted within historical time and is considered likely to do so in the future.

• Dormant Volcano: Literally, "sleeping." The term is used to describe a volcano which is presently inactive but which may erupt again. Most of the major Cascade volcanoes are believed to be dormant rather than extinct.

• Extinct Volcano: A volcano that is not presently erupting and is not likely to do so for a very long time in the future

Volcano Prediction• Tectonic Activity

– The volcanic mountain will “rumble” prior to an eruption• Magma is working its way up the vent or volcanic pipe, and pushes

stuff around during its ascent

• Topographic “Bulges”– The magma can push up/out on the land as it rises

• Gas emissions – volcanic “burps” of sulfur, water vapor, and carbon dioxide

• Temperature Spike – the temperature around and inside the volcano will rise

• ~Questionable~: Animals will bug out of the area –