GEOLOGY

EARTH SCIENCE

VOLCANOES

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
Which event causes a volcanic eruption?
A
magma turning into lava
B
water being heated by magma
C
explosions occurring in magma chambers
D
magma cutting through older rocks
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Since it is lighter than solid rock, the magma rises and collects in magma chambers. Eventually, some magma pushes through fissures and vents on the earth’s surface. Hence, a volcanic eruption occurs, and the erupted magma is known as lava.

Detailed explanation-2: -Although there are several factors triggering a volcanic eruption, three predominate: the buoyancy of the magma, the pressure from the exsolved gases in the magma and the injection of a new batch of magma into an already filled magma chamber.

Detailed explanation-3: -As magma rises and pressure is released, gas bubbles (mainly of water vapor and carbon dioxide) form and expand rapidly, causing explosions. Magmas with high silica content tend to erupt violently, because they are viscious.

Detailed explanation-4: -Such eruptions result when sufficient gas has dissolved under pressure within a viscous magma such that expelled lava violently froths into volcanic ash when pressure is suddenly lowered at the vent. Sometimes a lava plug will block the conduit to the summit, and when this occurs, eruptions are more violent.

Detailed explanation-5: -Magma rises through cracks from beneath and across the crust because it is less dense than the surrounding rock. When the magma cannot find a path upwards it pools into a magma chamber. These chambers are commonly built up over time, by successive horizontal or vertical magma injections.

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