AA is a type of basaltic lava characterized by a rough, jagged surface due to rapid cooling and solidification. Pahoehoe is another type of basaltic lava with a smooth, ropy texture formed when the outer layer of lava cools and solidifies, while the molten interior continues to flow.
The difference between Pahoehoe lava and AA lava is that pahoehoe lava is smooth and AA lava is jagged.
Pahoehoe comes from an explosive eruption, whereas AA comes from quiet eruptions.
Aa is slower, cooler, and has less sillica than pahoehoe. Pahoehoe is faster and moves quickly, and phoehoe has more silica, and is also darker than Aa
No, pahoehoe and aa lava are typically produced during non-explosive eruptions. Pahoehoe lava has a smooth, ropey texture, while aa lava is rough and jagged. Explosive eruptions typically produce ash, pyroclastic flows, and lava domes.
Pahoehoe is faster moving lava and AA is slower moving lava. Both types are found in basaltic type eruptions. They have different appearances. Pahoehoe is smooth and ropey where as AA is chunky and rough.(much like top of trees) Often a pahoehoe flow can change to an AA flow depending upon the type of slope it encounters. The steeper the slope the more likely AA lava will be present. Aa has more viscosity than Pahoehoe.
Aa and pahoehoe are both produced from basalt lava eruptions. The difference in the two being a difference in temperature. Pahoehoe is a hotter flow, moving more smoothly before cooling into rope-like structures. Aa is a bit cooler, forming solid chunks, but continuing to move.
Pahoehoe is so much more smoother and duller than AA, because it travels down a gentler slope. You can drive over Pahoehoe. AA, travels down a much steeper slope, and stumbles over itself, and when it hardens, it becomes VERY SHARP AND RAGGED. You wouldn't even be able to walk on AA lava without seriously messing up your feet.
The two main types of lava are pahoehoe, which has a smooth, rope-like texture, and aa, which has a rough, jagged texture. They differ in their viscosity and flow characteristics, with pahoehoe being more fluid and aa being more viscous.
Pahoehoe and AA lava are produced by quiet eruptions. This means that instead of a blast or explosion, the lava just flows out of the volcano. Pahoehoe lava is hot and flows quickly. AA lava is cooler in temperature and doesn't flow as quickly.
Shield volcanoes have low viscosity basaltic lava, which typically creates pahoehoe and AA lava flows due to their ability to flow easily. Composite volcanoes have higher viscosity lava, such as andesitic or dacitic, which tend to form thicker and blockier lava flows rather than pahoehoe and AA flows.
Quiet eruptions
Pahoehoe lava, Aa lava, and Blocky lava