Volcanic Eruptions

Front

What is a crater?

Back

A bowl-shaped area that forms around the vent of a volcano.

Front

What is a quiet eruption?

Back

An eruption characterized by low silica, low stickiness, and low viscosity, allowing magma to flow slowly for many kilometers.

Front

What causes magma to explode from a volcano?

Back

Dissolved gases in the magma expand, creating pressure that forces the magma through the pipes until it explodes out of the vent.

Front

What are volcanic bombs?

Back

Large pieces of rock that explode from a volcano during an explosive eruption, ranging from the size of a baseball to the size of a car.

Front

What is a dormant volcano?

Back

An active volcano that is not currently erupting but is expected to erupt again in the future.

Front

What is volcanic ash?

Back

Fine particles of rock and glass that are expelled during a volcanic eruption.

Front

What is a vent in a volcano?

Back

An opening in the Earth's crust through which volcanic materials escape.

Front

What is a pyroclastic flow?

Back

A fast-moving current of hot gas and volcanic matter that flows down the sides of a volcano during an explosive eruption.

Front

What is an active volcano?

Back

A volcano that is currently erupting or has erupted recently.

Front

What is an extinct volcano?

Back

A volcano that is not expected to erupt again in the future.