A Volcano Can Be Defined as A
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A volcano can be defined as a fissure in the crust of the earth erupting gases and molten lava. Volcano is a vent through which magma and dissolved gases are discharged. Magma forms when lower crust or the upper mantle of the earth melts and this magma is discharged in volcanic eruption. Volcanic eruption is caused by three major factors. The first is buoyancy of the magma formed in the crust of the earth. When rocks melt in the crust of the earth forming magma, its massremains the same, whereas the volume increases considerably. This magma rises towards the surface due to its buoyancy. The second factor is the pressure from the gases in the magma. Molten lava produces gases such as sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide. As the magma rises to the surface, pressure from the gases within it increases resulting in volcanic eruption The third factor causing a volcanic eruption is the injection of a new mass of magma into an already filled magma chamber. When a high volume of new magma enters an already filled magma chamber, the resulting high pressure creates a volcanic eruption.
What Causes Volcanoes?
The earth has “plates” and when two plates hit each other, one goes under and becomes “molten” which means it gets so hot, the ground turns into liquid. The molten stuff finds a hole in the ground and comes out the top. All of the continents used to be just one big piece of land, but the land broke up and floated away and created the 7 continents we have now. This was called continental drift. If you look at South America, it looks like it could fit like a puzzle piece into Africa. Because of the way the ground broke, it created plates. Even though the ground is heavy, the plates continue to move and that can cause earthquakes and volcanoes. When two plates hit each other, one can go under and become“molten” which means it gets so hot, the ground turns into liquid. The molten stuff finds a hole in the ground and comes out the top. When the molten stuff is in the volcano it is called magma. When it explodes, it is called lava. Volcanoes explode because of the gas buildup. When the gas builds up a lot, the gas and lava, which is hot rocks, blows out the top, it’s a lot like the way a soda explodes. The lava can get up to 1600 degrees - a lot hotter than an oven. After the lava cools, it turns into rock. One of the types of rock is obsidian, which is shiny and black. Volcanoes can also occur on other planets. Not all volcanoes explode, some are inactive and some are dormant.
The lava can kill people, but there can be other problems. If there’s heavy rains on the ash it creates a thick mud that has trapped people and animals. When all the trees and plants are destroyed by the lava, the animals have nothing to eat. Lots of volcanoes happen in the “Ring of Fire” which is from California to Asia. There are large tectonic plates in the Ring of Fire and lots of earthquakes happen here too.
What Causes Volcanoes?
The earth has “plates” and when two plates hit each other, one goes under and becomes “molten” which means it gets so hot, the ground turns into liquid. The molten stuff finds a hole in the ground and comes out the top. All of the continents used to be just one big piece of land, but the land broke up and floated away and created the 7 continents we have now. This was called continental drift. If you look at South America, it looks like it could fit like a puzzle piece into Africa. Because of the way the ground broke, it created plates. Even though the ground is heavy, the plates continue to move and that can cause earthquakes and volcanoes. When two plates hit each other, one can go under and become“molten” which means it gets so hot, the ground turns into liquid. The molten stuff finds a hole in the ground and comes out the top. When the molten stuff is in the volcano it is called magma. When it explodes, it is called lava. Volcanoes explode because of the gas buildup. When the gas builds up a lot, the gas and lava, which is hot rocks, blows out the top, it’s a lot like the way a soda explodes. The lava can get up to 1600 degrees - a lot hotter than an oven. After the lava cools, it turns into rock. One of the types of rock is obsidian, which is shiny and black. Volcanoes can also occur on other planets. Not all volcanoes explode, some are inactive and some are dormant.
The lava can kill people, but there can be other problems. If there’s heavy rains on the ash it creates a thick mud that has trapped people and animals. When all the trees and plants are destroyed by the lava, the animals have nothing to eat. Lots of volcanoes happen in the “Ring of Fire” which is from California to Asia. There are large tectonic plates in the Ring of Fire and lots of earthquakes happen here too.
