Volcanology Flashcards
the study of volcanoes and its materials and its processes
volcanology
a person who engages in the study of volcanology
volcanologist
a naturally occurring landform produced where lava erupts onto the surface
volcano
allows volcanoes to erupt
decompression
3 locations where volcanoes erupt
- pacific ring of fire
- spreading centers
- hotspots
40,000km long zone bordering much of the pacific plate
pacific ring of fire/pacific rim
plates tracing the pacific ring of fire
- indo-australian
- philippine
- north american
- juan de fuca
- cocos
- caribbean
- nazca
- south american
the pacific ring of fire is highly volcanically and seismically active having about _% or around _ volcanoes located in it
75%; 450
most of the pacific ring of fire subducts, especially along the western side, but has a _ boundary where it meets the _ plate
transform; north american
surface manifestation of hot mantle plumes. these have very active volcanism, high heat flow, and crustal uplifiting
hotspots
hotspot-formed chain of islands off the coast of the continental united states
emperor seamount chain
3 hotspot classifications according to Courtillot
- core-mantle boundary origin
- upper mantle origin
- lithosperic origin
regions where divergent plate boundaries spread and produce juvenile magma, creating submarine volcanoes
spreading centers
opening on a volcano where a conduit or pipe terminates
vent
a circular pipe where magma movement is localized
conduit/pipe
funnel shaped depression found at the summit of most volcanoes
crater
small cone shaped volcano formed from the flank eruption of a main volcano
parasitic cone
large underground region of magma that supplies the volcano
magma chamber
2 ways to classify a volcano
- morphology
- activity and history
produced by the accumulation of fluid basaltic lavas and exhibit the shape of a broad, slightly domed structure with gently sloping flanks, 15° or less
shield volcano
built from inter-layered tephra and lava flows, generally products of gas-rich andesitic magna, with slopes of 10° to 30°. considered as the most dangerous and eruptive
stratovolcano/composite volcanoes
composed mostly of loosely ejected ash and some lava, appearing relatively symmetrical and steeply built with large deep craters. most were produced by a single eruptive event
pyroclastic cones
pyroclastic cones dominantly composed of vesicular, basaltic material
scoria cones
pyroclastic cones with various compositions
cinder cones