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Eruptions with gas-rich, silica-rich magma are explosive. Instead of producing lava flows, these eruptions produce clouds of hot ash, pumice, and gas. Some ash and gas may be carried miles into the sky in a towering eruption column and then will rain down on the surrounding area. Denser clouds may race down the sides of the volcano as unsurvivable pyroclastic flows, destroying everything in their path. Explosive eruptions such as this are generally the deadliest.

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The type of magma that often produces a violent eruption can be described as?

felsic magma, which has high viscosity due to its high silica content. This high viscosity can lead to the build-up of pressure and gas bubbles, resulting in explosive eruptions.


Does silica or water have the greater effect on the eruptive force of the volcano?

Water gas a greater influence. Regardless of the amount of silica present, an eruption cannot be explosive if there is no gas present, and the chief gas is water vapor. Magma that is high in silica but low in gas content will be slowly extruded to form a lava dome or a very thick lava flow.


Why is silica rich magma associated with explosive eruptions?

Silica-rich magma has high viscosity, which can trap gas bubbles. When pressure builds up, the gas can cause explosive eruptions as it tries to escape through the thick magma. The high silica content also promotes the formation of explosive pyroclastic materials during an eruption.


Describe how differences in magma affect volcanic eruptions?

It depends on the texture of the magma, if it is thick then it won't let the gases escape, and if it is liquidy then the gases will escape resulting in a nonexplosive eruption. If the magma is high in silica and water then it will be thick If the magma is low or has no silica or water then it will be liquidy. - Negehna 6th Grade


Why are magmas with high silica content dangerous?

Magmas with high silica content are dangerous because they tend to be very viscous, which can lead to explosive eruptions. The high silica content traps gases within the magma, building up pressure until it is suddenly released in a violent eruption, often with ash plumes and pyroclastic flows. This can make eruptions more unpredictable and hazardous.

Related Questions

The type of magma that often produces a violent eruption can be described as?

felsic magma, which has high viscosity due to its high silica content. This high viscosity can lead to the build-up of pressure and gas bubbles, resulting in explosive eruptions.


Does silica or water have the greater effect on the eruptive force of the volcano?

Water gas a greater influence. Regardless of the amount of silica present, an eruption cannot be explosive if there is no gas present, and the chief gas is water vapor. Magma that is high in silica but low in gas content will be slowly extruded to form a lava dome or a very thick lava flow.


Why is silica rich magma associated with explosive eruptions?

Silica-rich magma has high viscosity, which can trap gas bubbles. When pressure builds up, the gas can cause explosive eruptions as it tries to escape through the thick magma. The high silica content also promotes the formation of explosive pyroclastic materials during an eruption.


Describe how differences in magma affect volcanic eruptions?

It depends on the texture of the magma, if it is thick then it won't let the gases escape, and if it is liquidy then the gases will escape resulting in a nonexplosive eruption. If the magma is high in silica and water then it will be thick If the magma is low or has no silica or water then it will be liquidy. - Negehna 6th Grade


What type of eruption produces a viscous magma containing 53 percent silica and a gas content of 2 percent?

A type of eruption that produces a viscous magma with 53 percent silica and a gas content of 2 percent is typically associated with a stratovolcano or a composite volcano. These eruptions are explosive due to the high viscosity of the magma, leading to the buildup of gas pressure before an explosive release. Example volcanoes with this type of eruption style include Mount St. Helens in the United States and Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines.


Why do volcanic eruptions differ?

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.


Why are magmas with high silica content dangerous?

Magmas with high silica content are dangerous because they tend to be very viscous, which can lead to explosive eruptions. The high silica content traps gases within the magma, building up pressure until it is suddenly released in a violent eruption, often with ash plumes and pyroclastic flows. This can make eruptions more unpredictable and hazardous.


Does a composite volcano have silica?

Yes it is high in silica because composite volcanoes are known for being explosive. Composite volcanoes, sometimes referred to as stratovolcanoes, one of Earth's most common type.They form by explosive eruptions of pyroclastic material followed by quieter outpourings of lava. This usually indicates high silica content. High silica makes for thicker magma that can clog up the vent from the volcanoe's last eruption. Which makes the next eruption far more explosive because the magma has to free its self out of the vent, and with tremendous force it succeeds sky rocketing billions of pieces of pyroclastic material out of its vent. (this is known as an explosive eruption.)


An explosive eruption occurs if magma is?

An explosive eruption occurs if magma is high in gas content and viscosity. The high gas content creates pressure within the magma chamber, leading to a violent release of energy when the eruption occurs. The high viscosity of the magma makes it more difficult for gases to escape, further increasing the explosiveness of the eruption.


What factors determine how explosive the eruption of a volcano will be?

In a volcano, the higher the pressure rises before eruption takes place, the more explosive the eruption will be. Some volcanoes seem to be "gentle flow" as a matter of course (like Mauna Loa in Hawaii). Some seem to be explosive as a matter of course (like Vesuvius in Italy). Others manifest both types of eruptions.


If the magma of a volcano has a high amount of dissolved gas what type of eruption will the volcano have?

Typically, high viscosity, high gas magma results in a Plinian (explosive) eruption. The gas pulverizes the magma into ash and may form lateral pyroclastic flows.


Why silica is a gas?

Silica is not a gas. It is a solid at room temperature.