Volcanic Eruptions

and Hazards
 What is a volcano?
vent
• A volcano is a vent or
'chimney' that connects
cone molten rock (magma)
from within the Earth’s
crust to the Earth's
surface.
• The volcano includes the
conduit surrounding cone of
erupted material.

magma
chamber
Different
Internal
Parts of
Volcano
• Magma - Molten rock beneath Earth's
surface.
• Parasitic Cone - A small cone-shaped
volcano formed by an accumulation of
volcanic debris.
• Sill - A flat piece of rock formed when
magma hardens in a crack in a volcano.
• Vent - An opening in Earth's surface through
which volcanic materials escape.
• Flank - The side of a volcano.
• Lava - Molten rock that erupts from a
volcano that solidifies as it cools.
• Crater - Mouth of a volcano - surrounds a
volcanic vent.
• Conduit - An underground passage magma
travels through.
• Summit - Highest point; apex
• Throat - Entrance of a volcano. The part of
the conduit that ejects lava and volcanic ash.
• Ash - Fragments of lava or rock
smaller than 2 mm in size that are
blasted into the air by volcanic
explosions.
• Ash Cloud - A cloud of ash formed
by volcanic explosions.
How and why do volcanoes erupt?
• Hot, molten rock (magma) is buoyant (has a lower density
than the surrounding rocks) and will rise up through the crust
to erupt on the surface.
– Same principle as hot air rising, e.g. how a hot air balloon works
• When magma reaches the surface it depends on how easily it
flows (viscosity) and the amount of gas (H2O, CO2, S) it has in
it as to how it erupts.
• Large amounts of gas and a high viscosity (sticky) magma will
form an explosive eruption!
– Think about shaking a carbonated drink and then releasing the
cap.
• Small amounts of gas and (or) low viscosity (runny) magma
will form an effusive eruption
– Where the magma just trickles out of the volcano (lava flow).
b. Phreatomagmatic
– is a violent eruption due
to the contact
between water and
magma. As a result, a
large column of very fine
ash and highspeed and
sideway emission of
pyroclastics called base
surges are observed.
c. Strombolian
– a periodic
weak to
violent eruption
characterized by
fountain lava
just
like the Irazu
Volcano in Costa
Rica.
d. Vulcanian
-it is characterized by tall eruption that reach
up to 20km high with pyroclastic flow and
ash fall tephra.
e. Plinian or Versuvian
-excessively explosive type of eruption of gas
and pyroclastic.