The viscosity of magma or lava will determine whether or not the eruption is explosive or quiet. Higher viscosity magma can result in explosive eruptions. Lower viscosity magmas tend to flow more freely.
high viscosity in magma composition.
The size of the magma chamber and the viscosity of the magma.
The highest viscosity lava is rhyolite. Rhyolitic lava tends to form dome-shaped volcanoes and tends to cause explosive eruptions.
A volcano fed by felsic magma will tend to have explosive eruptions.
Shield volcanoes have effusive eruptions. Effusive eruptions are a volcanic phenomenon; in some ways the opposite of explosive eruptions. An effusive eruption is characterized by an outpouring of low viscosity lava which has a fairly low volatile content. Usually, shield volcanoes have effusive eruptions.
Viscosity is how thick the magma is and this can impact on how much a volcano erupts and how it flows.
The main cause of differences in volcanic eruption characteristics is due to the viscosity of the magma. High viscosity magmas are high in sticky silica which traps gas and produces explosive eruptions. Low viscosity magmas are low in silica and produce eruptions with far less energetic characteristics.
They feature magma with very low viscosity
high viscosity in magma composition.
The size of the magma chamber and the viscosity of the magma.
Low viscosity mafic magma.
Basic lava is low in viscosity.
Felsic lava, due to its high viscosity and generally high gas content tends to produce violent eruptions.
Granitic magma is highly viscous (resists flow). This high viscosity results in the entrapment and buildup of gases which create explosive eruptions.
The highest viscosity lava is rhyolite. Rhyolitic lava tends to form dome-shaped volcanoes and tends to cause explosive eruptions.
A volcano fed by felsic magma will tend to have explosive eruptions.
Shield volcanoes have effusive eruptions. Effusive eruptions are a volcanic phenomenon; in some ways the opposite of explosive eruptions. An effusive eruption is characterized by an outpouring of low viscosity lava which has a fairly low volatile content. Usually, shield volcanoes have effusive eruptions.