Ch. 5: Volcanoes Flashcards
(36 cards)
Magma chamber
body of molten
material that feeds a volcano
Flank
part of volcano that slopes
away from vent on top
crack on side
Crater
area above vent where lava
has piled up
Caldera
large depression formed when
volcano collapses into magma chamber
below it
Fissure
flood basalt, plateau basalt, lava curtain
elongated fracture
horizontal crack
Factors affecting viscosity:
Composition
silica content: higher silica content, higher viscosity
Factors affecting viscosity: Temperature
Temperature: higher T, lower viscosity
Factors affecting viscosity: Gas content
Gas content: higher gas content, lower viscosity
Effusive
low viscosity, high T, volatile-rich lava flows; usually basaltic, shield volcano, gas escapes easily, lava flows
Explosive
pyroclastic; usually andesitic & rhyolitic (int-high viscosity), strato
Lava flows
different compositions depend on plate tectonic setting
Pyroclastic flows
composed of tephra (ash, cinders, etc.) plus very hot gas
Lahars
volcanic mudflows
Volcanic gases
CO2, H2O, etc,—evidence in vesicles
Mafic low
low SiO2—1200°C—low viscosity— effusive—basalt, shield, runny, high temp, high gas, low si
Intermediate
andesite, pyroclastics, strata
Felsic/sialic high
high SiO2—800°C—high viscosity—explosive—rhyolite, pyroclastics, cindercone, low t, low gas, high si
Shield Volcanoe
broad with gentle slopes; basaltic; Hawaii
Pahoehoe (shield)
ropey lava; low viscosity basalt rich in gas
Columnar basalt (shield)
forms when lava flows cools & shrinks
Pillow basalt (shield)
forms when basalt erupts into water
Stratovolcanoes/Composite
steeper slope; andesitic; examples: Fuji, St. Helens, Vesuvius; Pliny the Younger’s letter Eruption of Mt. St. Helens 1980: earthquake-triggered landslide, lateral blast, pyroclastic flows, lahars, ash cloud Subduction Zone
Cinder cones
small conical piles of tephra
tephra
blocks, bombs, ash
pyroclastic flow or nuée ardente