What Causes Volcanic Eruptions

It is believed that this volcanic area was caused by a localised hot spot within the Pacific plate. A concentration of radioactive elements inside of the mantle may have caused this hot spot to develop. The hot spot is stationary so as the Pacific plate moves over it a line of volcanoes are made. This is more proof that the Earth’s crust is moving as suggested by Wegener.

As a tectonic plate slides into the mantle, the heat releases fluids trapped in the plate. Seawater and carbon dioxide, rise into the upper plate and can partially melt the overlying crust, forming magma. And magma most likely means volcanoes are around.

But there are some anomalies as there are earthquakes which don’t take place on a plate boundary and it’s the same with volcanoes. An example of this is Hawaii. Hawaii is a volcanic island which is found in the middle of a tectonic plate. Hawaii is an example of a hotspot. The places known as hotspots are volcanic regions thought to be fed by underlying mantle that is anomalously hot compared with the mantle elsewhere. They may be on, near to, or far from tectonic plate boundaries. There are two hypotheses to explain them. One suggests that they are due to hot mantle plumes that rise from the core-mantle boundary. The other hypothesis postulates that it is not high

Volcanos are deadly, can form on islands or mainland, and can destroy mountains and cities. Volcanos commonly form from holes in the earth containing magma. When pressure builds up in these magma chambers, they explode resulting in magma and rock catapulting out into the air. As these volcanoes repeatedly explode, they leak magma, which runs down the side of the volcano. Eventually, the lava cools and transforms into solid rock, building up the volcano to mountain size. An example of giant volcanic eruptions is the Pompeii disaster in 79AD, when Mount Vesuvius erupted and destroyed all of Pompeii. Another example includes, the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington state, which destroyed the whole mountain. Volcanos

A volcano is an earth hazard that occurs on faults between tectonic plates on a destructive boundary and an eruption is a natural disaster. A primary impact happens immediately after the disaster and before any response like death or collapsing or destruction of buildings. A secondary impact occurs later after the disaster, such less farm produce or a reduction in tourism. The severity of these impacts will differ considerably in a MEDC and LEDC where volcanic eruptions have taken place. These may be seen in the Mount St. Helen volcano eruption as well as in the Iceland volcanic eruption. They may also

The first factor that must be considered is the viscosity of the magma. This can determine how powerful an eruption is and what shape the volcano

Volcanoes can be found throughout the entire world and are formed when there is a rupture in the mantle of the Earth's crust. This effect allows the output of volcanic lava, ash, and various types of gases. These tectonic plate breaks are normal, the planet Earth is divided into 17 tectonic plates and consistently move against each other forming shifts from low to high intensity. It can cause displacement of earth or water.

Composite is the first which is also referred to as strato; it is formed from layers of ash and lava flows that are steep sided cones. The next type is called Shield volcanoes; which are low with sloping sides. This type is formed from layers of lava. The last type of volcanoes is Dome. This type of volcano is filled with a very thick type of lava. Volcanoes occur where they do because of the pressure that has been built up. This is very similar to a bottle of champagne, there is so much pressure stored inside of a champagne bottle that when the cork pops you can feel the pressure being released from that bottle. Volcanoes occur in that same fashion without the cork being popped. This pressure is being stored in the magma chamber and when it erupts it erupts just like a bottle of champagne that has been shaken

The Earth’s outer crust is made up many tectonic plates that move over the surface of the planet. When the plates come collide, volcanoes will form sometime (National Ocean Service). Volcanoes can also form in the middle of a plate, where magma rises upward until it erupts on the sea floor, at what is called a “hot spot” (National Ocean Service). A hot spot is a plume of magma or molten rock that rises from within the Earth then reaches the surface forming underwater volcanoes which may grow tall enough to

What is a volcano: A volcano is a mountain created by the earth. It also creates a hole where molten rock (lava) erupts. A volcano is filled of magma but when the magma erupts and is out of the volcano it is now called lava. When a volcano erupts it fills the air with lava fragments. A volcano can cause a lot of destruction like tsunamis, flash floods, mudflows, rockfalls, and earthquakes. Most volcanoes are located where the tectonic plates meet. Most

The earth’s crust is made out of plate tectonics. Each plate has a defined boundary and direction it moves. The plates in Earth’s crust perform two actions; they submerge under each other or they spread out. The Pacific Plate is the largest plate and it borders around many plates. The Pacific Plate moves northwest. New crust is formed from magma outpours, which are a result of the zones spreading. The tectonic plates created the islands. When the tectonic plates move, it creates the change in geography. Active volcanoes together shape the way islands are build. The magma from the volcano and the deposits from the plate are needed to create

To begin, a volcano is a mountain with an opening in the top or side that sometimes sends out rocks, ash, lava, in a sudden eruption (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). A volcano erupts when pressure builds inside the mountain. Magma, lava while it is inside the volcanoe, pushes through the weakened crust. When this built up pressure is released, Earth’s plates move causing a volcanic eruption. Also, dangerous flows of steaming lava can reach up to 2,000

A volcano is a weak spot in the crust where molten material, or magma, comes to the surface. In a volcano there is a magma chamber, pipe, vent, lava flow, and craters. A magma chamber is the pocket where magma collects under or below a volcano. The pipe of a volcano is the long tube in the ground that connects the Earth's surface to the magma chamber. A vent in a volcano is where the molten rock and gas from the volcano leave through an opening. The lava flow is a certain area that is covered by lava that is coming out of the vent. Lastly, a crater is a bowl shaped area that is formed at the top of the volcano.

Some volcanoes cause tons of hot lava, poisonous gas, and ash that has the ability to travel hundreds of miles, destroying businesses, homes, animals, people, and frankly everything in its path, some volcanoes can erupt and leave nothing behind. On the other hand, there are eruptions that are mild and have minor eruptions which do not cause such harm as the major eruptions. When a volcano erupts the gases, vapors, and ash is injected into the stratosphere and forms a veil.

This is only a general overview of the inner workings of volcanoes and their eruptions. For more infomation, visit Volcano World -- The Premier Source of Volcano Info on the Web.