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fewer silicate chains in the magma

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Q: Which of the following causes a magma to be less viscous?
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What causes a magma to be less viscous?

The main cause of an explosive volcano is the amount of gases trapped in the magma. If the gases have had time to escape, there will be less pressure built up resulting in a less vicious magma explosion.


Why are Hawaiians volcanic eruptions less violent?

Compared with some other volcanoes around the world, the Hawaiian volcanoes are fed by low-viscosity magma with a low gas content. The explosive power of a volcanic eruption is driven by gas trapped in the magma, and magma that is more viscous allows more pressure to build up. The magma in the Hawaiian volcanoes flows out fairly readily.


What type of magma is most likely to cause a volcano to explode?

Magma that is high in silica content, known as felsic magma, is most likely to cause a volcano to explode. Felsic magma is highly viscous and can trap gas bubbles, leading to high pressure build-up within the volcano. When this pressure is released explosively, it can result in a volcanic explosion.


What causes volcanoes to erupt violently while others simply leak molten rock?

There are two main factors factors: gas content and magma viscosity. All magma has some amount of gas dissolved in it. This gas is released when the magma is exposed to lower pressure near the surface. In magma with a high gas content the gas bubbles out of solution and expands explosively in the presence of low pressure. If the gas content is low it may only result in a bit of bubbling. Viscosity is the tendency of a liquid to resist flowing. For example, maple syrup is more viscous than water. Magma varies in viscosity depnding on its temperature and composition. Lower temperatures and higher silica content make a more viscous magma. More viscous magmas usually have a higher gas concentration. Additionally, in viscous magmas, the gas is less likely to escape ahead of the magma in the prelude to an eruption.


Why do mafic magmas tend to reach the surface much more often than silicic magmas?

Mafic magma is less viscous or more fluid than silicic magma in much the same way that water is less viscous than molasses. Mafic magma reaches the surface more often because it flows more easily.

Related questions

What causes a magma to be less viscous?

The main cause of an explosive volcano is the amount of gases trapped in the magma. If the gases have had time to escape, there will be less pressure built up resulting in a less vicious magma explosion.


How high can volcanic eruptions occur into the air?

That all depends on how viscous the magma (though out of the earth it's called lava) is. More viscous, the bigger and higher it gets. The less viscous, the less violent the explosion can and will be.


An anemia resulting from a decrease RBC number causes the blood to become?

less viscous.


Why are Hawaiians volcanic eruptions less violent?

Compared with some other volcanoes around the world, the Hawaiian volcanoes are fed by low-viscosity magma with a low gas content. The explosive power of a volcanic eruption is driven by gas trapped in the magma, and magma that is more viscous allows more pressure to build up. The magma in the Hawaiian volcanoes flows out fairly readily.


What type of magma is most likely to cause a volcano to explode?

Magma that is high in silica content, known as felsic magma, is most likely to cause a volcano to explode. Felsic magma is highly viscous and can trap gas bubbles, leading to high pressure build-up within the volcano. When this pressure is released explosively, it can result in a volcanic explosion.


What causes volcanoes to erupt violently while others simply leak molten rock?

There are two main factors factors: gas content and magma viscosity. All magma has some amount of gas dissolved in it. This gas is released when the magma is exposed to lower pressure near the surface. In magma with a high gas content the gas bubbles out of solution and expands explosively in the presence of low pressure. If the gas content is low it may only result in a bit of bubbling. Viscosity is the tendency of a liquid to resist flowing. For example, maple syrup is more viscous than water. Magma varies in viscosity depnding on its temperature and composition. Lower temperatures and higher silica content make a more viscous magma. More viscous magmas usually have a higher gas concentration. Additionally, in viscous magmas, the gas is less likely to escape ahead of the magma in the prelude to an eruption.


Why do mafic magmas tend to reach the surface much more often than silicic magmas?

Mafic magma is less viscous or more fluid than silicic magma in much the same way that water is less viscous than molasses. Mafic magma reaches the surface more often because it flows more easily.


What is the consistency of basaltic lava?

No, it is actually one of the less viscous.The viscosity increasing when the composition of Felsic minerals make larger.That is, basalt lavas are more fluent than felsic lavas such as lavas from andesite of rhyolite. Also, the more viscosity, the more explosive.


Why do magma and silca rich magma erupt explosively?

silica is a rich compound consisting of silicon and oxygen and tends to be thicker and is more resistant to flow. other lava with less silica flows easily so the amount of water vapor and other gases trapped in lava influences how lava erupts.


Which lava is less viscous rhyolitic or basaltic?

Basaltic lava is less viscous.


What kind of magma produce violent volcanoes eruptions?

Rhyolitic magma. This type of magma is found where the gases can't escape like in volcanic eruptions. Because the gas can not escape, the magma becomes viscous, resulting in the explosions being violent and unpredictable. The other type of magma is Basaltic magma. This can be found where continent plates are pulling away from each other and the magma is nearer the surface. This allows the gas to escape and therefore the magma is less viscous and doesn't result in explosive volcanoes, here eruptions are gentle and 'rifts' are more likely, where lava is persistent. I hope this helps! :)


How is steam produce within a dormant volcano?

The steam may come from magma relatively near the surface heating and boiling groundwater. Some gasses may come from the magma itself. The gas, being far lighter less viscous than the magma, can move through cracks even when the magma can't.