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Volcanism, vulcanism or volcanicity is the phenomenon of eruption of molten rock (magma) onto the surface of the Earth or a solid-surface planet, moon or asteroid, where lava, pyroclastics, and volcanic gases erupt through a break in the surface called a vent.[1] It includes all phenomena resulting from and causing magma within the crust or mantle of the body, to rise through the crust and form volcanic rocks on the surface. Magmas that reach the surface and solidify form extrusive landforms.[2]
Volcanic processes[edit]
Magma from the mantle or lower crust rises through the crust towards the surface. If magma reaches the surface, its behavior depends on the viscosity of the molten constituent rock. Viscous (thick) magma produces volcanoes characterised by explosive eruptions, while non-viscous (runny) magma produce volcanoes characterised by effusive eruptions pouring large amounts of lava onto the surface.
In some cases, rising magma can cool and solidify without reaching the surface. Instead, the cooled and solidified igneous mass crystallises within the crust to form an igneous intrusion. As magma cools the chemicals in the crystals formed are effectively removed from the main mix of the magma (by a process known as fractional crystallization), so the chemical content of the remaining magma evolves as it solidifies slowly. Fresh unevolved magma injections can remobilise more evolved magmas, allowing eruptions from more viscous magmas.
Forming rocks[edit]
When magma cools it solidifies and forms rocks. The type of rock formed depends on the chemical composition of the magma and how rapidly it cools. Magma that reaches the surface to become lava cools rapidly, resulting in rocks with small crystals such as basalt. Some of this magma may cool extremely rapidly and will form volcanic glass (rocks without crystals) such as obsidian. Magma trapped below ground in thin intrusions cools more slowly than exposed magma and produces rocks with medium-sized crystals. Magma that remains trapped in large quantities below ground cools most slowly resulting in rocks with larger crystals, such as granite and gabbro.
Existing rocks that come into contact with magma may be melted and assimilated into the magma. Other rocks adjacent to the magma may be altered by contact metamorphism or metasomatism as they are affected by the heat and escaping or externally-circulating hydrothermal fluids.
Volcanism on other bodies[edit]
Volcanism is not confined only to Earth, but is thought to be found on any body having a solid crust and fluid mantle. Evidence of volcanism should still be found on any body that has had volcanism at some point in its history. Volcanoes have indeed been clearly observed on other bodies in the Solar System – on some, such as Mars, in the shape of mountains that are unmistakably old volcanoes (most notably Olympus Mons), but on Io actual ongoing eruptions have been observed. It can be surmised that volcanism exists on planets and moons of this type in other planetary systems as well. In 2014, scientists found 70 lava flows which formed on Earth’s Moon in the last 100 million years.[3]
Cryovolcanism is a type of extraterrestrial volcanism involving the eruption of liquids and vapors of materials that freeze on the surface of natural satellites. It occurs on icy moons in the outer Solar System, such as Neptune's Triton, Saturn's Enceladus and possibly Jupiter's Europa.[4] The cause of cryovolcanism may be the melting of ice from tidal heating.[5]
See also[edit]
- Bimodal volcanism
- Hotspot
- Magmatism
- Prediction of volcanic activity
- Seafloor spreading
- Volcanic arc
- Volcano
- Volcanology
References[edit]
- ^ "Cooling Planets: Some Background: What is volcanism?" (PDF). The Lunar and Planetary Institute, Department of Education and Public Outreach. 2006. p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
- ^ Leong, Goh Cheng (1995-10-27). Certificate Physics And Human Geography; Indian Edition. Oxford University Press. p. 20. ISBN 978-0-19-562816-6.
- ^ "Recent volcanic eruptions on the moon". sciencemag.org. 12 October 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ Geissler, Paul (2015). "Cryovolcanism in the Outer Solar System". The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes. Elsevier. pp. 763–776. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-385938-9.00044-4. ISBN 978-0-12-385938-9. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ Greenberg, Richard (2002). "Tidal-tectonic processes and their implications for the character of Europa's icy crust". Reviews of Geophysics. 40 (2). doi:10.1029/2000rg000096. ISSN 8755-1209. S2CID 129033565.
External links[edit]
- "Glossary of Volcanic Terms". G. J. Hudak, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, 2001. Retrieved 2010-05-07.
- Crumpler, L. S.; Lucas, S. G. (2001). "Volcanoes of New Mexico: An Abbreviated Guide For Non-Specialists" (PDF). Volcanology in New Mexico. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin. 18: 5–15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-03-21. Retrieved 2010-04-28.