Volcanoes

A Volcano is…
• An opening in Earth’s crust through
which molten rock, gases, and
ash erupt.
Structure of a volcano

ash cloud

lava central
vent
side vent
old layers
of lava

magma Earth’s crust

Volcano Formation
• Volcanic Eruptions occur when
magma rises to the surface.
• The three main factors that
influence how a volcano will erupt
are temperature, viscosity and gas
content.
 Where Volcanoes Form
• Most volcanoes occur at:
1. DIVERGENT boundaries, and at
2. CONVERGENT boundaries that have SUBDUCTION.
3.Hot Spots
Volcanoes at Divergent Boundaries
Divergent- Great Rift Valley
Volcanoes at Convergent Boundaries
(Subduction)
 Volcano- Convergent

Sibayak, Indonesia

Mt St. Helens
 Hot Spots
• Sometimes, volcanoes occur at places that
aren’t plate boundaries.
• We call these HOT SPOTS.
–hot magma rises from deep in
Earth’s mantle.
– thinnest or weakest.
weakest
 Example of Hot Spot
• Volcanoes that make up Hawaii.
 Classification of volcano
active Inactive

Mt. Pinatubo Mt. Cabaluyan

 Types of Volcanoes
• There are 4 main types of Volcanoes:

–Shield Volcanoes
–Cinder Cone Volcanoes
–Composite Volcanoes
–Fissure Volcanoes
 Shield Volcanoes
• Shield Volcanoes form from runny
lava (low viscosity) that tends to
flow long distances before
hardening. They generally have
quiet eruptions.
– Example: Mauna Loa, Hawaii
 Cinder Cones
• Form when molten lava is thrown into the air
from a vent. As it falls, it breaks into fragments
called ash or tephra that harden before hitting
the ground.
 Cinder Cones

New Guinea

Iceland
 Composite or Stratovolcano
• Form from alternating eruptions of quiet
lava and explosive ash. The layers build
up and make a moderate-sized volcano.
 Fissure Volcanoes
• Form in long cracks where plates are pulled
apart and near other volcanoes where the crust
is weakened. Cinder Cone or Shield Volcanoes
may also be nearby.
 Crater

Caldera
Crater Lake in Oregon State should
actually be called Caldera Lake

TAAL
VOLCANO
 Types of Volcanic Eruption
• Strombolian
• Phreatic or hydrothermal
• Phreatomagmatic
• Vulcanian
• Plinian
Strombolian
 Phreatic or hydrothermal

Stream-driven eruption
Stream-driven eruption
Phreatomagmatic
Vulcanian
short eruption
columns that
reach up to 20km
high with
pyroclastic flow,
tephra falls
 Plinian

Mt. Pinatubo eruption

June 15, 1991
Volcanic Hazards
• Pyroclastic flow
• Lahars/Mud flows
• Lava flow
• Volcanic Gas
• Earthquakes
 Pyroclastic Flow
• For example, eruption of Vesuvius in 79
AD destroyed the city of Pompeii
Pompeii (79AD)
lahars
 Lava Flow
• It is not just explosive volcanic activity that
can be hazardous. Effusive (lava) activity
is also dangerous.
Volcanic Gas
Water vapor
constitutes 70 to 95
percent of all eruption
gases. The rest
consists of carbon
dioxide, sulfur dioxide
and traces of
nitrogen, hydrogen,
carbon monoxide,
sulfur, argon, chlorine
and fluorine.
Earthquake
• BEFORE A VOLCANIC ERUPTION
• Find out about the volcanic risk in your
community. Ask your local council about
emergency plans and how they will warn you of
a volcanic eruption.
• Practice your evacuation plan with members of
the household.
• Develop a Household Emergency Plan.
Assemble and maintain yourEmergency
Survival Items for your home as well as a
portable getaway kit.
• Include your pets and livestock in your
emergency plan.
• DURING A VOLCANIC ERUPTION
• Listen to the radio for instructions.
• If outside at the time of eruption, seek shelter in
a car or a building. If caught in volcanic ashfalls,
wear a dust mask or use a handkerchief or cloth
over your nose and mouth.
• Stay indoors as volcanic.
• When indoors, close all windows and doors to
limit the entry of volcanic ash. Place damp
towels at thresholds.
• If you have to go outside use protective gear
Stay out of designated restricted zones.
• AFTER A VOLCANIC ERUPTION
• Listen to your local radio
• Stay indoors and away from volcanic ashfall areas as much as
possible.
• When it is safe to go outside, keep your gutters and roof clear of ash
as heavy ash deposits can collapse your roof.
• If there is a lot of ash in the water supply, do not use your dishwasher
or washing machine.
• Avoid driving in heavy ashfall as it stirs up ash that can clog engines
and cause serious abrasion damage to your vehicle.
• Keep animals indoors where possible, wash away ash on their paws
or skin to keep them from ingesting the ash, and provide clean
drinking water.
• Use a mask or a damp cloth and eye protection when cleaning up.
Moisten the ash with a sprinkler before cleaning.
• Look for and report broken utility lines to appropriate authorities.
• If your property is damaged, take notes and photographs for
insurance purposes. If you rent your property, contact your landlord
and your contents insurance company as soon as possible.
Label the parts of a volcano
Word Bank:

 Main Vent/Crater
 Secondary Vent
 Magma Chamber
 Lava
 Ash & Dust Cloud
 Tephra Bombs
 Cone