Outline

Definition and general description

Volcanoes: Genesis of volcanoes,
Central and fissure type of eruptions.
Products of volcanoes,
effects of volcanoes,
earths volcanic belts.

Definition &General Description

A volcano is a vent or 'chimney' that
connects molten rock (magma) from
within the Earths crust to the Earth's
surface.

vent

cone

The volcano includes the surrounding

cone of erupted material.

conduit

magma
chamber

Genesis of Volcanoes
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).

Types of Magmas
The composition of magma determines the type of rock that
forms when it cools and its behavior during an eruption.
Main controls on behavior:
Chemical composition (largely Silica dioxide - SiO2 - content)
SiO2 content controls the viscosity of a magma (Higher SiO2 content
Higher viscosity)

&
Gas Content (largely water vapor and CO2).
Viscosity, in turn, controls the amount of gas that can be trapped in the
magma.
The greater the viscosity the more gas in the magma.

Types of Magmas
There are three basic types of magma:
Basaltic Magma
Andesitic Magma
Rhyolitic Magma
The names are based on the rock type that forms when the magma
crystallizes.

Magma
Type

Chemical
Composition

Basaltic

45-55% SiO2;
High in Fe,
Mg, Ca; Low
in K, Na.

Andesitic 55-65% SiO2;

Intermediate
Fe, Mg, Ca,
Na, K
Rhyolitic 65-75% SiO2;
Low in Fe, Mg,
Ca; High in K,
Na

Temperature Viscosity Gas

Content
(degrees C)
1000 - 1200

Low

Low

800-1000

Intermedi Intermed
ate
iate

650-800

High

High

Types of Eruptions
Overall, the behaviour of the magma
determines the type of volcanic eruptions :
Quite / Efusive Eruptions:
Low SiO2 magmas, with little gas and low viscosity, flows
readily through their vents and across the land surface when
the lava escapes the vents.

Explosive Eruptions:
High SiO2 magmas, gaseous and with high viscosity, tend to plug
their vents until the force of escaping magma blows the vent clear;
such magmas cause explosive volcanoes.

Quiet Eruptions
(Effusive Eruptions)
A volcanic eruption dominated by the passive outpouring of lava
onto the Earths surface is called an effusive eruption.
This happens either because there is not enough gas (volatiles) in
the magma to break it apart upon escaping, or the magma is too
viscous (sticky) to allow the volatiles to escape quickly.
Lava flows generated by effusive eruptions vary in shape, thickness,
length, and width depending on the type of lava erupted, discharge
rate (how fast it comes out of the vent), slope of the ground over
which the lava travels, and duration of eruption.
Although not generally as hazardous as explosive eruptions, lava
flows can burn and bury buildings and forests and do pose a danger
to people living on or near an active volcano.

Quiet Eruptions
(Effusive Eruptions)

Explosive Eruptions

If the pressure of a magma chamber is released (by cracking the

surrounding rock or breaking through to the surface) the gas
dissolved in the magma will start to exsolve (separate from the melt
forming bubbles). These bubbles, called vesicles, rapidly expand and
rise through the magma. (Think about shaking up a bottle of
carbonated drink to build up the pressure and then taking the top
off the bottle to quickly release the pressure - what happens?)
The rapid escape of gas (volatiles) causes magma to fragment and
erupt explosively.

Explosive Eruptions

Types of Eruptions
There are two main modes of volcanic
eruptions:
Central Type
Fissure Type

Central Type of Eruptions

This type of Volcanoes are represented by a cone crowned by a bowl-like

depression called the crater and a vent, connecting the crater with the
magma-chamber, through which the eruption products reach the surface.

A number of central types of volcanoes have been recognized depending

on the chemical composition of the lava, gaseous contents and the nature
of the volcanic structure, as follows: -

(i) Hawaiian type

In such cases the lava begins to pour over slowly the edge of the crater and flow down
the slope. Thus there is silent effusion of lava without any explosive activity.
Sometimes, the lava, foamed by gases, is sprayed into the air and solidified in the form
of long glassy threads known as Pele's Hair. The lava is basaltic in nature. The Hawaiian
type of volcanic eruption is characteristic of Mauna Loa and Kilauea on the Hawaiian
Islands.

Central Type of Eruptions

(ii) Strombolian-type

In this type, the eruptions are rhythmic and they occur at intervals of 10 to 15 minutes. The lavas
emitted are of basaltic composition which are less mobile and with more viscosity in comparison to
those of Hawai-ian types, because of more accumulation of gases.
Moderate explosions occur with the eruption, ejecting volcanic bombs, lapilli and slags.
The Volcano 'Stromboli' in the Mediterranean Sea shows this type of eruption. Since glow from the
ejected masses are visible afar to men on ships with regularity, it is called the Light House of the
Mediterranean.

(iii) Vulcanian-type

In this case, eruption takes place at longer intervals and the lava is more viscous which quickly
solidifies between consecutive eruptions, producing explosions.
Each new-explosion causes the shat-tering of the congealed cover. They emit much ash. This type is
named after 'Volcano' in the Lipari Islands, north of Sicily, which shows this type of eruption.

Central Type of Eruptions

(iv) Vesuvian-type
These are characterized by extremely violent eruptions of lava which is highly charged
with gases, possessing a relatively high degree ofviscosity, during a long period of
superficial quiescence.
The eruptions occur after long intervals, usually measured in tens of years, ejecting
huge amount of volcanic products in the form of volcanic ashes, lapilli, bombs etc.
The lava flowing out of the crater runs down the slope of the cone. After the volcanic
activity subsides, it remains at rest for an indefinite time.
Volcanoes like Vesuvius, Etna located in the Mediterranean shows this type of eruption;
hence of the name.

Central Type of Eruptions

(v) Plinian-type
These are the most violent type of Vesuvianeruption. In such cases, huge quantities of
fragmental products are ejected with little or no
discharge of lava.

Central Type of Eruptions

(vi) Pelean-type
This is the most violent type of all the eruptions. Here the lava is of andesitic
composition, and highly saturated with gases and possesses a high degree of viscosity.
Such lava congeals in the crater and because the vent gets plugged, the free exit of gases
is prevented thus creating a tremendous pressure beneath the plug.
Here the lava, therefore, force its way out through side fissures and sweeps down the
slopes as avalanche of molten rock-materials of self-explosive type and gases.
This combination of extremely hot, incandescent fine ash and coarse rock fragments
permeated with hot gases is known as Nudes ardentes.
The town of St. Pierre at the foot of Mont Pele'e was destroyed by nue'es ardentes,
during the eruption of Mont Pele'e in 1902. This type of eruption is exhibited by Mont
Pele'e located in the Island of Martinique in West Indies.

Types of Volcanoes
2. Fissure type

Sometimes volcanic eruptions take place along a fissure or a group of

parallel or closed fissures. Usually volcanic cones are not produced through
fissure-eruptions. Lava, flowing out of fissures, spreads out over extensive
areas forming lava sheets.
Fissure - eruptions are characterized by quiet welling out of molten lava.
The Deccan Traps in India are made up principally of basaltic lava-flows,
which were erupted mostly through fissures and covered a major portion of
the Deccan-plateau.

Types of Volcanoes
2. Fissure type

Products of Volcanoes
(Effects of Volcanoes)

Gaseous products
Liquid products
Solid products

Products of Volcanoes
Gaseous products
Most Common Gases:
Water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) are the most
common volcanic gases.

Other Gases:
In lesser amounts, volcanoes release carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen sulfide
(H2S), carbonyl sulfide (COS), carbon disulfide (CS2), hydrogen chloride (HCl),
hydrogen (H2), methane (CH4), hydrogen flouride (HF), boron, hydrogen bromine
(HBr), mercury (Hg) vapor, organic compounds, even gold (From Cadle, 1980).

Products of Volcanoes
Liquid products
Lava: Hot (up to 1200 degrees C), fluid,
molten rock that flows along the land
surface.

Lava can flow like viscous water, including

forming lava falls.

Pahoehoe: Lava with a ropelike surface

texture due to partial cooling as the lava
flowed. Relatively hot, low viscosity lava.

Pahoehoe

A thick deposit of pahoehoe lava

Aa: Blocky, rough lava flow. Due to

high viscosity lava that flowed pushing
chunks of solid and semi-solid blocks.

Lava tube: A tube

formed by cooling
and solidifying of the
lava walls while fluid
lava continued to
flow inside.

Pillows: A form of closed lava tube (with a bulbous end) that forms
when a lava flows into water (e.g., a lake or ocean) and cools very
rapidly.

http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04fire/background/volcanism/media/pillow_lava_video.html

Pyroclastic material: Debris formed by a volcanic

explosion. Results when magma is very viscous.

Tephra:

The general term for all pyroclastic material that is

ejected from a volcano. Different terms apply according to the size of
the tephra. (syn. Ejecta)

Ash: tephra that is finer than 2 mm in diameter.

Lapilli: from 2 mm to 64 mm in diameter.

Blocks: hard fragments

greater than 64 mm in
diameter.

Bombs: soft, partially melted fragments

greater than 64 mm in diameter.

Tuff: A deposit made up of ash.

Welded tuff: A deposit of pyroclastic material that was laid
down while still very hot and particles become fused together.

Ash fall: Fallout of very fine ash from the air.

Volcanic ash fall during midday with the eruption of
Mount Pinatubo in the
Philippines.

Ash flow: Pyroclastic debris that flows downslope.

Nue Ardente (glowing cloud): A hot, gaseous cloud of ash that flows
down slope.

Pompeii (79AD)

On August 24, 79AD Mount Vesuvius literally

blew its top, erupting tonnes of molten ash,
pumice and sulfuric gas miles into the
atmosphere. Pyroclastic flows flowed over the
city of Pompeii and surrounding areas.

Lahar: A water saturated slurry of ash and other

volcanic debris that flows downslope.

Lahar mudflow

Resources

http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/

http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Volcanoes,_list/El_Chichon
Geography and you.com
http://www.preservearticles.com/2011103116338/what-are-the-different-types-ofvolcanoes.html

Barbara Decker, and Robert Decker. (1997) Road Guide To Hawaii Volcanoes National
Park
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/natural-disasters/volcano-profile/

Following movies & documentaries recommended:

Dantes peak
Volcano
2012
Pompeii
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuQrUwFn6bU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpuBrkmU9hs#t=10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zHgwiOK3oU#t=11
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qN9Ge5btr8