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  • How a Volcano Erupts

    A volcano is any opening in the Earth’s surface that allows molten rock and volcanic gases to escape from far below the Earth’s surface. Although many volcanoes are mountainous in shape, a volcano can exist in nearly any form, including volcanic vents on the ocean floor, ice volcanoes, which have been found on a variety of other planets, and volcanoes that are simply a crater in the ground.

    Despite the variances in the shape of volcanoes, they all erupt in relatively the same way. The process begins when the pressure on a magma chamber deep below the Earth’s surface begins to build up. This building pressure causes the magma from the chamber to be forced upward through a series of tubes or conduits. As the magma reaches the surface, it is thrust through the vents on the volcano, resulting in an eruption.

    The size and severity of a volcanic eruption depend on a variety of underlying factors. Some of these include:

    • How full the magma chamber was at the time of the eruption
    • The amount of gas present in the magma and in the magma chamber itself
    • How much silica is in the magma itself
    • Whether or not any water is present in the eruption

    Water, Silica, and Pumice

    If a volcanic eruption has a low amount of water as well as a low amount of silica in the magma, the lava will flow gracefully from the volcano. This is because there is little water to provide any explosive potential and the lack of silica in the magma causes the lava to be runny and more liquid. Under the same conditions, if the magma were to have a higher amount of silica, the lava would become pasty and would work more towards making the volcano taller and create what is known as a lava dome atop the volcano.

    If there are high amounts of water present in a volcanic eruption, the volcano changes its eruption style significantly. The added water creates steam, which can lead to fountains of lava if there is not much silica present in the magma or an explosion if the magma erupting from the earth is high in silica.

    Despite the powerful forces at work during a volcanic eruption, there are a few things that can block a volcano from erupting. One such obstacle is an accumulation of pumice, which can create a massive stoppage in the magma pipes. However, once the magma finally breaks through its barrier, an explosion type eruption usually takes place.

    Videos Related to Volcano Eruption

    Leave a Reply to nisi Cancel reply



      15 April, 2014 at 12:04 am



      15 April, 2014 at 12:04 am


    3. hi

      10 February, 2014 at 5:26 pm

      volcanoes erupt because of the magma rising through the vent!!!!! hope this helps guys!

    4. hi

      10 February, 2014 at 5:25 pm


    5. Amanda

      28 March, 2012 at 2:05 pm

      They exist because the magma in the ground form the volcano. When it explodes, the lava dries on the volcano and the volcano gets bigger over time from the dried lava.

    6. Amanda

      28 March, 2012 at 2:03 pm

      Volcanoes explode due to the amount of pressure from the magma. The volcano explodes when there is no more room for the magma. When the volcano explodes the magma turns into lava.

    7. jeumil

      4 March, 2012 at 4:06 pm

      volcanoes erupt because of the magma inside it and when the magma is near to the top it turns to lava and then it pop’s out like a soda 😀

    8. jim

      16 January, 2012 at 5:55 pm

      this wasn’t verrry helpful but cheers anyway

    9. nisi

      17 November, 2011 at 3:52 am

      i’m intrested in2 studying volcanoes <(“)

      • jeumil

        4 March, 2012 at 4:08 pm

        um me i like learning about the planets in space not volcanoes ehehe

    10. arianna

      16 November, 2011 at 3:42 am

       the volcano erupts every thousnad years

    11. Berna

      14 November, 2011 at 11:54 am

      Y Do Volcanoes Exist Ffs? :@ .

    12. bella

      11 November, 2011 at 1:10 am

      can i asked someone about a volcano plz describe the parts of a volcano

    13. nigjlu

      9 November, 2011 at 2:28 pm


    14. huntyr

      1 October, 2011 at 7:32 pm

      volanoes are always thought of big mountians with a hole on top like a f***ing rock!!!!

      • bella

        11 November, 2011 at 1:23 am

        hi  my name is bella and iam 14/15 yr  old  i like werewolve because they are fast animals on this planet and also iam a female  what are you male or female

    15. sarah

      20 September, 2011 at 12:23 am

      how many times a year do volcanos erupt?
      how do volcanos effect people?
      why do volcanos erupt?

    16. kylita

      2 August, 2011 at 11:29 pm

      volcanoes are really cool but hot

      • jim

        16 January, 2012 at 5:54 pm

        well noo ?

    17. charlotte

      22 July, 2011 at 2:48 am

      volcanos arent cool there hot

    18. Mormon

      16 June, 2011 at 6:58 am

      But how do magnets work?!

      • anamika

        18 December, 2011 at 7:32 am

        i thought volcanoes was the topic 😛

        • thepussydestroyer c;

          9 May, 2013 at 3:55 pm

          i know c; so how you been ?

    19. ted

      22 March, 2011 at 6:21 am

      volcanos are cool!

      • memenode

        23 March, 2011 at 12:07 am

        Actually, they are very very hot. 😉

    20. Isha Daukia

      24 January, 2011 at 12:54 am

      how do they form the lava?

      • jeumil

        4 March, 2012 at 4:10 pm

        First magma and then lava read my comment below 😀

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