Earth Science
volcanic eruption
A volcanic eruption ejects lava, pyroclasts, or volcanic gases onto the surface of the Earth from a volcano, fissure, or vent.
The volcano begin to inflate as the magma chamber grows larger |
Inflation reaches its peak. |
The volcano erupts and then deflates, returning to its original shape |
| Volcano monitoring. These illustrations show three stages in the eruption of a Hawaiian volcano, and how tilt and distance measurements are made | ||
volcanic ash
Volcanic ash is a sediment composed of fine (less than 4mm) volcanic rock fragments. It is formed from fine sprays of lava that cool and solidify while still airborne.
Taal Volcano View
from Taal Lake of the Taal Volcano on Volcano Island. Philippines. |
Layers of Volcanic Dust in the Earth's Atmosphere View
from the space shuttle Endeavour of a sunset behind volcanic dust in the Earth's
atmosphere, still visible over a year after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo.
|
Stromboli Volcano A
beach and settlement below the Stromboli Volcano. Italy. |
Volcano in Landmannalaugar A
volcano amid the hills of Landmannalaugar, Iceland. |
Steaming Volcano Steam
rises from the caldera of the active Poas Volcano in Costa Rica.
|
Volcano in Kenya A
volcano in the Chyulu Range in Kenya. |
Steaming Volcano Gases
vent from the top of the Yasur Volcano on Tanna Island, Vanuatu. |
Steaming Volcano Gases
vent from the top of the Yasur Volcano on Tanna Island, Vanuatu. |
Avachinsky Volcano Aerial
view of the snow-covered summit of the 9035-foot volcano. Aerial
view of the desert north of Landers, California. A crack in the surface, indicating the
presence of a fault, runs between two homes. |
Lascar Volcano and Ash Seen From Space View
from the space shuttle Columbia of the Andes Mountains in Chile. The Lascar
Volcano, at center left, has blown a fan of ash across the mountains to the east. |
Ash Cloud From a Japanese Volcano Aerial
view of a huge ash plume erupting from the summit of the Sakurajima Volcano. Japan. |
Klyuchevskaya Volcano Erupting View from the space shuttle Endeavour of a huge ash
cloud from the eruption of the Klyuchevskaya Volcano, in Siberia. |
 Sunrise With Volcanic Ash The
rising sun reddens the sky near the Colimas Volcano in Mexico. A recent eruption filled
the atmosphere with volcanic ash, making sunrises and sunsets very colorful. |
Mud Dams on a Volcano Aerial
view of sabo dams on the slopes of the Sakurajima Volcano. An ash cloud erupts from the
summit of the mountain. |
Slope of Yasur Volcano Ash
in the atmosphere gives a hazy appearance above the slope of the active Yasur Volcano.
Tanna Island, Vanuatu. |
Ohi'a Trees Stripped by Ash and Heat Denuded
Ohi'a trees downwind of an active vent near Aloi crater The trees have been stripped of
leaves & bark by heat and ash. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii. |
Houses Engulfed By Lava, Iceland Buildings
engulfed by lava and ash pushed into the street following an eruption of Heimaey Volcano.
Iceland. |
Sakurajima Eruption Seen From Space A
cloud of ash erupts from the Sakurajima Volcano near Kagoshima, Japan, as seen from the
space shuttle Atlantis.
|
Stromboli Erupts Through Sunset Clouds The
volcano island of Stromboli spews fiery and ash steam over the Tyrrhenian Sea off the
coast of Sicily. |
View Into Crater Ash
particles fill the air inside the crater of the active Yasur Volcano. Tanna Island,
Vanuatu. |
Constructing a Volcanic Dam The
Sakurajima volcano vents ash as a volcanic dam is built nearby. |
Related Links
Michigan Technological University Volcanoes Page - information about current global volcanic activity, research in remote sensing of volcanoes and their eruptive products, hazard mitigation, links, and even some volcano humor.
Capulin Volcano National Monument - headquartered in Capulin, NM.
Long Valley Caldera - California
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Offers Guided Nature Walks
Rabaul Caldera - New Guinea - reports, images, and animations from Michigan Technological University.
Santorini - Greece - contains information about the geology and volcanism of the active stratovolcano of the Hellenic Arc in the south Aegean Sea.
Taal Volcano - Philippines - text about and pictures of the volcano that lies near Tagaytay City.
Tibesti Volcanic Region - Chad - satellite image of ancient volcano eroded nearly to ground level. Also information and images for specific volcanoes in the region.
Volcanoes of the Cascades - majestic and perilous natural wonders crown the Pacific Northwest landscape.
Volcanoes of the United States - a comprehensive online publication by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Volcanoes Online - learn about plate tectonics and continental drift, and about the different types of volcanoes and eruptions. Plus a volcanoes database, games, and comics.
USGS: Volcanoes - a summary of the nature, workings, products, and hazards of the common types of volcanoes around the world, along with a brief introduction to the techniques of volcano monitoring and research.