- What are three names for non-explosive lava?
- What factors are considered in predicting volcanic eruptions?
- Why is predicting volcanoes so important?
- Giventhatastronomersarefarawayfromthesubjectstheystudy, whatevidencemight
they look for to determine the composition of a planet on which a volcano is found?
Further Reading / Supplemental Links
- http://www.usgs.gov/
- http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/essential/earthspace/session4/closer1.
html - http://www.wikipedia.org/
Vocabulary
active volcano A volcano that is currently erupting or just about to erupt.
dormant volcano A volcano that is not currently erupting, but that has erupted in the
recorded past.
effusive eruption A relatively gentle, non-explosive volcanic eruption.
eruption The release of magma onto the Earth’s surface. Usually an eruption is accom-
panied by the release of gases as well.
explosive eruption Avolcaniceruptionthatreleaseslargeamountsofgas, sothatmagma
is violently thrown up into the air.
extinct volcano A volcano that has not erupted in recorded history, and is considered
unlikely to erupt again.
magma chamber A region within Earth surrounded by solid rock and containing magma.
pyroclast A rock made up of fragments of volcanic rock thrown into the air by volcanic
eruptions.
viscosity The “thickness” or “stickiness” of a liquid. The more viscous a liquid is, the
harder it will be for the liquid to flow.