Did you know facts about volcanoes?
Did you know facts about volcanoes?
An erupting volcano can trigger tsunamis, flash floods, earthquakes, mudflows and rockfalls. More than 80% of the earth’s surface is volcanic in origin. The sea floor and some mountains were formed by countless volcanic eruptions. Gaseous emissions from volcano formed the earth’s atmosphere.
What are the 3 types of volcanoes?
Individual volcanoes vary in the volcanic materials they produce, and this affects the size, shape, and structure of the volcano. There are three types of volcanoes: cinder cones (also called spatter cones), composite volcanoes (also called stratovolcanoes), and shield volcanoes.
Why do volcanoes have lava?
Deep within the Earth it is so hot that some rocks slowly melt and become a thick flowing substance called magma. Since it is lighter than the solid rock around it, magma rises and collects in magma chambers. Magma that has erupted is called lava. Some volcanic eruptions are explosive and others are not.
How hot is a volcano?
When a volcano erupts, the surroundings can get pretty warm. Basalt lava (the most common type) can reach temperatures of around 1200 degrees Celsius, while rocks scattered around the volcano can also reach temperatures of up to 1,000 degrees Celsius.
How old is the oldest volcano?
about 350,000 years old
The oldest volcano is probably Etna and that is about 350,000 years old. Most of the active volcanoes that we know about seem to be less than 100,000 years old. Volcanoes grow because lava or ash accumulates on the volcano, adding layers and height.
Can volcanoes produce lightning?
Volcanic lightning is an electrical discharge caused by a volcanic eruption rather than from an ordinary thunderstorm. Volcanic lightning arises from colliding, fragmenting particles of volcanic ash (and sometimes ice), which generate static electricity within the volcanic plume, leading to the name dirty thunderstorm.
Why do volcanoes explode?
Volcanoes erupt when molten rock called magma rises to the surface. 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.
How deep is a volcano?
Most of these volcanoes are thousands of feet deep, and difficult to find. But in May of 2009, scientists captured the deepest ocean eruption ever found. Nearly 4000 feet below the surface of the Pacific Ocean – in an area between Samoa, Fiji and Tonga – the West Mata volcano was discovered.
What are some things about volcanoes?
The lava and ash deposited can provide nutrients for soil making it very fertile. The high level of heat and activity inside the volcano can provide geothermal energy. Volcanoes can provide valuable materials such as Zinc, Copper, Gold and Crystals.
What is the most famous volcanic eruption?
Located near Naples in Italy, Mount Vesuvius is perhaps the world’s most famous volcano. Almost two thousand years ago, in the late summer (or early autumn) of AD 79, Mount Vesuvius violently erupted. The eruption continued for two days, causing huge amounts of volcanic ash to rain down on the surrounding area.
What is inside a volcano?
Inside a volcano is a long tube leading up towards the top filled with lava. This is called a vent. The area in which the magma is held is called a magma reservoir. There are really only two parts to a volcano, the vent and magma reservoir.
What are facts about active volcanoes?
An active volcano is a volcano that is erupting or has erupted in the last 100 years. Active volcanoes have a magma chamber beneath them that supply the lava for eruptions and are considered geologically ‘hot’. All volcanoes have the potential to be active as long as they have a supply of magma beneath them.
