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THE ROCK CYCLE. VOLCANISM. I. Introduction. From: Roman god of fire, Vulcan. I. Introduction. From: Roman god of fire, Vulcan What is a volcano? A conical mountain formed around a vent where lava, pyroclastic materials, and gases are erupted. I. Introduction. B. Volcanic activity:
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I. Introduction From: Roman god of fire, Vulcan
I. Introduction From: Roman god of fire, Vulcan • What is a volcano? A conical mountain formed around a vent where lava, pyroclastic materials, and gases are erupted.
I. Introduction B. Volcanic activity: • Active • Dormant • Extinct
B. Volcanic Activity 1. Active volcanoes • activity in the last few centuries Ex: Vesuvius, 79 A.D. (50 times in 2000 yr) Ex: Mt. St. Helens (1980)
B. Volcanic Activity 2. Dormant volcanoes • “quiet” for the last hundred to thousands of years, but still have potential to erupt. Mt. Rainier
B. Volcanic Activity 3. Extinct volcanoes • No eruption in historical times • No signs of erupting again
Introduction C. Volcano Distribution • Most volcanoes occur in one of three areas: • Circum-Pacific (i.e. The Ring of Fire) • 60% • Mediterranean • 20% • Spreading centers • 10 – 15%
II. Volcanic materials • Three types of material expelled from volcanoes
Volcanic materials A. Lava (“the liquid”) • Molten rock
Volcanic materials A. Lava • Molten rock • Si affects viscosity
II. Volcanic materials A. Lava 1) Pahoehoe lava • Basaltic lava • Low viscosity
II. Volcanic materials A. Lava 1) Pahoehoe lava • Basaltic lava • Low viscosity • Cools moderately slowly • Ropelike appearance
II. Volcanic materials A. Lava 2) Aa lava (pronounced aa-aa) • Basaltic lava • Higher viscosity • Solidifies while flowing • Angular pieces
II. Volcanic materials A. Lava 3) Pillow lavas • Lava extruded underwater • Cools and contracts • Spherical masses • Ocean floor
II. Volcanic materials A. Lava (“the liquid”) B. Ash and pyroclastic material (“the solid”) • Airborne material ejected by a volcano • Classified based on size:
B. Ash and pyroclastic material (“the solid”) * Volcanic ash • Fine ash - <0.06mm • Coarse ash – 0.06mm to 2mm • Composition = rock, mineral, and volcanic glass
B. Ash and pyroclastic material (“the solid”) * Cinders • 2 mm and 64 mm • Composition - same as ash • Hazardous when falling
B. Ash and pyroclastic material (“the solid”) C) Bombs • Larger than 64mm • Molten rock solidifies in the air • Shapes vary
II. Volcanic materials C. Volcanic gases (“the gases”) • Volatiles • H2S – Hydrogen sulfide • H2O – Water vapor • SO2 – Sulfides • CO2 – Carbon dioxide • N2 – Nitrogen • HCl – Hydrochloric Acid • Significance?
II. Volcanic materials A) Determines violence of an eruption • High gas = violent eruptions • Violent eruptions = felsic magmas • High viscosity magma traps gas • Expansion is prevented, pressure builds
II. Volcanic materials B) Effects on global climate • CO2 – Greenhouse gas • SO2 – Blocks sunlight
II. Volcanic materials • Hazards to humans • Clouds of CO2 get released • Travels across the ground
III. Volcanic Landforms • An erupting volcano will produce a number of distinct landforms including: A. Volcanic cones B. Flood basalts C. Calderas
A. Volcanic cones Three types of volcanic cones:
A. Volcanic cones 1) Shield volcanoes • Multiple layers of basaltic lava • Shallow sides due to magma’s low viscosity • Gentle eruptions
A. Volcanic cones 1) Shield volcanoes • Tall volcanoes –3 or 4 miles tall • Wide base – Diameter of ten of miles
A. Volcanic cones • Mauna Loa volcano, Hawaii
A. Volcanic cones 2) Cinder cones – • Smallest volcanic cone • Layered ash and cinders Ex: El Paricutin
A. Volcanic cones 2) Cinder cones • Short, narrow cone, • Steep sides • Violent eruptions
A. Volcanic cones Lassen National Monument, CA
A. Volcanic cones 3) Composite or stratovolcanoes – • Layered ash, lava, and mud • Intermediate to felsic lava • Steep sides, due to lava’s high viscosity
A. Volcanic cones 3) Composite or stratovolcanoes – • Tall volcanoes – 1 to 2 miles high • Violent eruptions
A. Volcanic cones • Mt. St. Helens, WA
III. Volcanic Landforms B) Flood basalts • Large outpourings of basaltic lava • Multiple, quiet eruptions • Lava plateau
B) Flood basalts • A portion of the Columbia Flood Basalts in WA
III. Volcanic Landforms C) Calderas • Large depressions (> 1km) from violent eruptions • Ugashik Caldera, AK
C) CalderasTwo methods of formation: Method 1: Volcano rapidly empties its magma chamber, and support is lost
C) Calderas Method 1 (cont.): • Overlying material collapses into magma chamber • Caldera forms
C) Calderas Ex: Crater Lake, OR
C) CalderasTwo methods of formation: Method 2: Volcano blows its top, leaving behind a void Inside the cone.
C) CalderasTwo methods of formation: Method 2: Volcano blows its top, leaving behind a void Inside the cone.
IV. Volcanic hazards • Lahars (hot mud flows)
IV. Volcanic hazards • Lahars Sources of water • Melting ice caps • Excess rainfall
IV. Volcanic hazards B) Nuee Ardentes (Glowing Ash flows) • Clouds of dense gas and debris • French for “glowing cloud” • High speeds and high temperatures
IV. Volcanic hazards • How does a Nuee Ardente form? • Volcano erupts • Hot debris rises • Gravity takes over