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What happens when a volcanoes erupt?

Updated: 3/12/2021
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12y ago

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A volcano is an opening from the Earth's surface into pools of hot liquid rock (magma) beneath the Earth's crust. The opening allows magma to expand and erupt, where it takes the form of lava, ash, cinders, or gas. Because the magma is under extreme pressure from the overlying crust, ejections of this material can expand explosively, causing an area of destruction several miles wide. Ejected ash, dust, and gas can persist in the atmosphere for weeks or months. Eruptions in or near the ocean can also generate tsunamis.

The Eruption

In a typical volcanic eruption, lava is forced up and out of chambers beneath the surface, sometimes creating a tall cone of rock and ash. If the ejection is energetic enough, "bombs" (large liquid globs of lava) can be thrown from the vent for miles through the air. Lava will flow from the eruption site and may cover a large area. "Pyroclastic clouds" are flows of superheated gas and rock (called tephra) that can race from a volcano at speeds up to 700 km/hr (450 mph), usually steered down slopes by gravity. These can destroy almost everything in their path, heat the air to 1000°C (1830°F), and carry noxious, deadly gases.

Most volcanoes are fortunately far from urban areas, and many erupt in a controlled manner every day, or continually for many years. The islands of Hawaii were formed by undersea volcanoes, which continue to build the "big island" of Hawai'i to this day.

The magma inside the magma pool bursts out of a hole on top of the volcano, and then become lava. The magam and lava bombs land everywhere, doing devastating damage.

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10y ago
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12y ago

The magma is forced out of the volcano through heat and pressure, causing a huge eruption with lava trickling down te volcano and ash and soot in the sky.

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lava

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Q: What happens when a volcanoes erupt?
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Related questions

Do tsunamis erupt?

No. Volcanoes erupt.


How many volcanoes can erupt at once?

An unlimited amount of volcanoes can erupt at once


How many volcanoes erupt yearly?

About 60 volcanoes erupt each year.


Do volcanoes erupt at the end of the year?

Volcanoes can erupt at any time of year.


What climates do volcanoes need to be in to erupt?

Volcanoes can erupt in any climate. Climate does not affect a volcano's ability to erupt.


How can volcanoes errupt under water?

The tectonic plates shifting is what causes an underwater volcano to erupt. Plate shifting is also the cause of tsunamis and earthquakes.


What type of volcano does and does not erupt?

Active volcanoes erupt. Dormant volcanoes are quiet - but may erupt again some day. Extinct volcanoes have "closed up shop" for good, and will never erupt again.


Are volcanoes considered volcanoes when they erupt?

Yes, they are.


What are the two ways volcanoes erupt?

there lots of diffrent ways slow steady fast .


What makes composite volcanoes to erupt?

Ash and Gas make composite volcanoes erupt i believe


Where does volcanoes mostly erupt in?

they mostly erupt in Hawaii


What volcanoes erupt gently?

Shield volcanoes erupt least violently cinder cone most violently and compost can erupt either way.