Magma Viscosity Factors Quiz

A volcano with a steep, cone-shaped structure built up by alternating layers of lava flows, ash, and cinders.

Lava with low viscosity, meaning it flows easily and doesn't erupt explosively.

Volcanoes contribute to Earth's systems by providing fertile soil through the release of mineral-rich ash.

A region within a tectonic plate where molten rock, known as magma, rises to the surface, creating volcanoes.

The viscosity, or thickness, of magma determines how explosive a volcanic eruption will be.

A volcano with a broad, gently sloping shape built up by fluid, basaltic lava flows.

Higher temperatures make magma less viscous, allowing it to flow more easily.

Higher silica content in magma makes it more viscous, creating thick, sticky lava.

Dissolved gases in magma make it less viscous and more likely to erupt explosively.

Magma with high viscosity is more likely to erupt explosively, resulting in powerful eruptions.

Highly viscous magma traps gases, leading to pressure build-up and potentially explosive eruptions.

Pyroclastic flows are fast-moving, hot mixtures of gas and rock that can cause destruction and fatalities.

Lava is magma that has erupted onto the Earth's surface, while magma is molten rock found underground.

Magma rises towards the surface due to its lower density compared to surrounding solid rocks and pressure from tectonic forces.

Dormant volcanoes are volcanoes that haven't erupted in the last 10,000 years but are expected to erupt again in the future.

A volcanic vent that releases only gases, often with a distinctive smell of sulfur.

A caldera is a large, basin-shaped depression created by the collapse of a volcanic cone, while a crater is a smaller, funnel-shaped pit at the top of the vent.

Magma rises because of tectonic forces squeezing it upward and because it's less dense than surrounding solid rocks.