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The difference in the flow of lava is determined by how viscous the magma of the volcano is. For Stratovolcanoes like those seen in the Cascades Range of the North Western United States, there magma is normally very sticky as it has a high concentration of Silica. The higher the concentration of silica within magma makes it stickier and will make it resist flow. This is why Stratovolcanoes often will erupt explosively, as there is no way for the gasses to simply passively leave during a lava flow. This viscosity traps the gasses and makes explosive eruptions much more likely as once the gasses finally are able to escape the level of gasses have built up to catastrophic levels within the volcano. On the other hand Hawaiian style volcanoes have a very low silica content within their magma chamber, and therefore have very flowable lava. This allows for the fire fountains and lava channels that are often times shown in magazines. These eruptions are often times passive in nature, as the gasses dissolved in the magma are easily able to escape during an eruption.
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∙ 12y ago
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∙ 14y agoviscous = sticky, so slow moving acid lava is more viscous than runny basic lava
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∙ 12y agoFast moving lava is called "Pahoehoe" And slow moving lava is called "aa" .
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∙ 11y agoHigher silica lavas are more viscous. The most most viscous lava is rhyolitic lava.
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∙ 15y agoSlow moving lava.
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∙ 13y agoSlow lava is more viscous.
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∙ 13y agono, it moves faster.
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Difference between viscous and non viscous lava?
Viscous lava is very sticky and thick and is more felsic (ie it contains more silica) than non-viscous lava. This type of lava makes for a very explosive volcano, because it's so sticky that it sticks to itself and can't exit the volcano until it explodes violently. Non-viscous lava is more runny and is more mafic (has more iron, less silica). Volcanoes with non-viscous lava are less explosive because the lava just runs out slowly and no pressure builds. The Hawaiian islands are formed from volcanoes with non-viscous lava.
How do you measure the viscosity of a liquid?
you can measure it by dropping a lead ball into the liquid while timing it with a stop watch if it is runny then it is more viscous and when it is thick and not runny it is less viscous.
Does rhyolite lava have high viscosity?
Yes. Rhyolitic lava is extremely viscous, thousands to hundreds of thousands times more viscous that basaltic lava.
Volcanoes can have runny or sticky molten rock which one is fairly safer?
Sticky magma is more dangerous. The more viscous magma tend not to come out as lava flows, but often come out explosively, producing fast-moving avalanches of hot ash and gas called pyroclastic flows.
Temperature differences between acidic and basaltic lava?
Acid lava comes from composite cone volcanoes, is slow moving and viscous. Basic lava comes from shield volcanoes, is runny and flows faster. Acidic lava is felsic, or high in quartz and potassium feldspars. Basic lava is mafic, and higher in plagioclase feldspar.
Define volatile and viscous?
Viscous means how thick a LIQUID is and how tightly the particles are packed together if the liquid is thick(less runny) it is more viscous if the liquid is thin(more runny) it is less viscous
What is meant by a viscous liquid?
Viscosity is a measure of the thickness or how runny a liquid is. More viscous means thicker and syrup-like. Less viscous means more runny and more like water.
What is the speed of moving lava?
Lava can reach supersonic speeds in some highly explosive volcanic eruptions. Lava speed is mostly dependent on the lava's viscosity, whether it's runny or sticky. Most runny lava flows are probably less than 10 miles per hour. The more viscous, the slower the flow, depending on slope and other conditions.
Difference between viscous and non viscous lava?
Viscous lava is very sticky and thick and is more felsic (ie it contains more silica) than non-viscous lava. This type of lava makes for a very explosive volcano, because it's so sticky that it sticks to itself and can't exit the volcano until it explodes violently. Non-viscous lava is more runny and is more mafic (has more iron, less silica). Volcanoes with non-viscous lava are less explosive because the lava just runs out slowly and no pressure builds. The Hawaiian islands are formed from volcanoes with non-viscous lava.
How do you measure the viscosity of a liquid?
you can measure it by dropping a lead ball into the liquid while timing it with a stop watch if it is runny then it is more viscous and when it is thick and not runny it is less viscous.
Does rhyolite lava have high viscosity?
Yes. Rhyolitic lava is extremely viscous, thousands to hundreds of thousands times more viscous that basaltic lava.
Volcanoes can have runny or sticky molten rock which one is fairly safer?
Sticky magma is more dangerous. The more viscous magma tend not to come out as lava flows, but often come out explosively, producing fast-moving avalanches of hot ash and gas called pyroclastic flows.
Which is more viscous honey tar water or lava?
From thickest to thinnest: lava, tar, honey, then water.
Temperature differences between acidic and basaltic lava?
Acid lava comes from composite cone volcanoes, is slow moving and viscous. Basic lava comes from shield volcanoes, is runny and flows faster. Acidic lava is felsic, or high in quartz and potassium feldspars. Basic lava is mafic, and higher in plagioclase feldspar.
Does crystal content affect viscosity of lava?
Yes, the more numerous and larger the crystals are, the more viscous the lava is: it does not, however, have a very dramatic effect.
Does a composite volcano have an Aa type of lava?
A'a can occur at composite volcanoes, but block lava flows, which are far more viscous, are more common.
What is silicia and how does it affect how well magma will flow?
The more silica, the slower the lava flows and the more viscous it is.
