The high the silica content, the explosive and the eruption.
The more gases, water vapor and silica there is in magma the bigger the explosiveness of a volcanic eruption.
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Pressure and magma
The two principal factors that can determine the nature or explosiveness of a volcanic eruption is Temperature and Composition in terms of its water content, mineralogy and volatility.
The VEI stands for Volcanic Explosivity Index, which is a scale used to measure the explosiveness of volcanic eruptions based on factors like volume of erupted material, height of eruption column, and duration of the eruption.
The eruption in Montserrat in 1995 was a catastrophic event but it did not have a specific Richter scale measurement because the scale is typically used to measure earthquakes, not volcanic eruptions. Instead, volcanic eruptions are typically measured using the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) which gives a sense of the eruption's intensity and explosiveness.
VEI stands for Volcanic Explosivity Index, which is a scale used to measure the explosiveness of volcanic eruptions based on factors such as eruption cloud height, volume of material expelled, and duration of the eruption. It ranges from 0 (non-explosive) to 8 (mega-colossal).
The Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) is a scale used to measure the explosiveness of volcanic eruptions. It ranges from 0 to 8, with higher numbers corresponding to larger eruptions. The scale takes into account factors such as volume of erupted materials, height of eruption column, and duration of the eruption.
The explosiveness of a volcanic eruption is largely influenced by the magma's composition and the amount of trapped gases within it. Magma with high viscosity and gas content tends to lead to more explosive eruptions, as the gases can build up pressure within the magma chamber until they are forcefully released.
less gas dissolved in the ejected material therefore less ash ad explosiveness in the eruption. There still is an outpouring of matter though in the form of lava with less dissolved gas.
The Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) provides a useful measure of the explosiveness of a volcanic eruption, categorizing eruptions based on the volume of erupted material and the height of the eruption column. However, it is not a comprehensive indicator of the dangers involved, as it does not account for other critical factors such as the eruption's location, type of volcanic activity, population density nearby, and prevailing wind patterns. Therefore, while VEI can indicate potential severity, a holistic assessment of volcanic hazards requires considering multiple factors beyond just the VEI rating.
If a volcano erupts more explosively, the lava spewing out tends to reach farther, possibly ruining a near by town. If it erupts more quietly, not as much lava tends to spew out. However, any eruption will cause harm to the atmosphere because it releases harmful pollutants.