Volcanic Processes

Water Water can be heated by magma or lava. Process of heating water can create: –Geysers –Hot Springs –Fumaroles –Mud Pots Heated water can cause hydrothermal alteration

Gases Released from within magma as pressure and temperature changes –Can cause explosive eruptions –Can poison plants and animals at surface

Lava Flows Streams of molten rock –Some flow smoother and faster than others Depends on –Temperature –Chemical make-up – Everything in the path of the lava is in danger of being: Knocked over Surrounded Buried Burned/melted

Tephra ‘Ash Fall’ and/or ‘Eruption Column’ Explosions and “Stuff” that is Ejected During Eruptions Tephra- lava and solid material, blasted into the air –Volcanic Ash/Dust- Small and very small material ejected during an eruption –Volcanic Bombs- Pebble sized to massive boulders of ejected material

Tephra Particles of shattered rock and cooled lava. Falls at air temperature at distance from the vent. Non-poisonous to touch or breathe. Irritates eyes, breathing difficult, reduces visibility, abrasive, clogs filters.

Pyroclastic Flows ‘Ash Flow’ Avalanches of hot gases and rock. Form by collapse of lava flows or eruption columns. Destroy all in their path by burial, burning and asphyxiation. Melted snow and ice and indirectly cause lahars. Can move at 80 km/h and reach temperatures of 700º C

Landslides Flow of rock and debris ‘debris avalanche’ Hydrothermal alteration- when groundwater becomes heated and acidified, alters the composition of rocks, and makes them susceptible to collapse.

Lahars ‘ Mud Flows’ or ‘debris flow’ A fast-moving slurry of mud, boulders and water Formed by –Volcanically--melted snow and ice –Landslides –Glacial floods

Lahars May pick up more debris while moving down slope Water can be very hot Flows in river valleys, but can travel great distances from the volcano

Semeru Volcano, Indonesia Video by Frank Lavigne

Tsunamis Eruptions can create huge waves in large bodies of water located near a volcano

A Common Scenario During Eruptions… Lava flows on steep slopes break apart and transform into... …avalanches of hot rock and gases called pyroclastic flows …that melt snow and ice and mobilize loose rock to form… Lahars.

Volcanoes give us warning signs Volcanoes often show signs that they are getting to erupt days to months or more in advance. Scientists evaluate signs of unrest and look for: Increased emission of volcanic gases Increased earthquake activity Swelling of the volcano.

Limiting Danger from Hazards WarningWarning –Know when event is happening ResearchResearch –Know what will happen in an event EducationEducation –Know what to do when an event happens