Science

Volcanic eruptions.

Definition

Events in which magma, gases, and ash are expelled from a volcano onto Earth's surface or into the atmosphere. Eruptions occur when pressure from dissolved gases in magma exceeds the strength of the overlying rock, and they range from gentle lava flows to explosive blasts.

Examples

Real-world.

  • 1 The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens that blew off the mountain's north face in a lateral blast
  • 2 Hawaii's Kilauea producing slow-moving basaltic lava flows that reach the ocean
  • 3 The 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption cooling global temperatures by about 0.5°C for two years due to sulfur aerosols
Studied in

1 unit use this concept.