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Volcanoes. Volcano. Repeated eruptions of lava and pyroclastic material Often separated by long inactive periods Often forms a mountain. What causes volcanoes?. Magma forms deep inside Earth Less dense than rock above it, so slowly forced upward
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Volcano • Repeated eruptions of lava and pyroclastic material • Often separated by long inactive periods • Often forms a mountain
What causes volcanoes? • Magma forms deep inside Earth • Less dense than rock above it, so slowly forced upward • Magma reaches Earth’s surface and flows through opening called a vent
Volcano Crater • Steep-walled depression around a volcano’s vent • Formed as lava flows out of vent, quickly cools and hardens • A large crater is called a caldera
Form in one of three places Divergent plate boundary Convergent plate boundary Hot spot Where do volcanoes occur?
Divergent Boundaries • Plates separate (move apart) and magma flows up from the rifts. • Can rise above sea level to form islands • Ex: Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Iceland
Plates move together Create subduction zone where several volcanoes may form Ex. Ring of Fire Convergent Boundaries
Hot Spots • Areas away from plate boundaries where magma is forced to the surface • Ex: Hawaii
Factors affecting type of eruption • Viscosity of magma • Magma composition • Magma temperature • Amount of dissolved gases in magma
Viscosity= Resistance to flow The higher the viscosity of magma the greater the eruption Temperature affects viscosity higher temps = lower viscosity Chemical composition of magma also has an effect Higher silica content = greater viscosity
Dissolved Gases Trapped gases provide the force to eject material from the vent 2 main gases- Water vapor and Carbon Dioxide More dissolved gases = greater eruption
Types of Volcanoes • Shield • Lava quietly flows from vent • Mountain covers large area and dome-shaped • Sides gently sloped • Ex: Mauna Loa, Hawaii
Mauna Loa • Earth’s largest volcano
Types of Volcanoes • Cinder Cone • Cinders and rock particles blown into air • Mountain small with steep sides • Ex: Paricutin, Mexico
Types of Volcanoes • Composite • Violent eruption sends up volcanic bombs, cinders and ash • Quiet volcanic flow follows explosion • Alternating layers form mountain • Mountain large and cone-shaped with steep sides • Ex: Mt. St. Helen’s, Washington
Worlds most active volcano: • Kilauea in Hawaii • Most recent series of eruptions 1993 • 1990 destroyed most of Kalapena Gardens, Hawaii
Monserrat • Caribbean Island • Erupted 1997 • 19 killed
Mt. St. Helen’s • May 1980 • 57 killed
Mount Pinatubo • In the Philippines • June 1991, • Almost 900 killed • 27 million metric tons of sulfur dioxide and ash thrown into Earth’s upper atmosphere
Nevado del Ruiz • Armero, Colombia destroyed • Erupted 1985 • 23,000 killed