lava tube
vent
InsideanEruption
1
MagmarisesfrombelowEarth’s surface.
2
Risinggasesputpressureonthesealed vent.
3
Gasesexplode,breakingthe seal.
4
Ahotcolumnofvolcanicashandgasshootsintothe air.
5
Duringlargeeruptions,pyroclasticflowsmadeofgasandvolcanicmattermoveathigh speeds.
6
Lavaflowsslowlyacrossthe land.
7
Lahars,mixturesofwaterandash,moverapidlydownstreamsand rivers.
8
Oncethegaseshaveescaped,theexplosionends.Thesealcloses again.
Restart
magmaand gas
HowItWorks
TheplanwastohiketothetopofSantaMaríawheretheteamcouldobservethelavadomefromabove.InsidetheCalientedome,magmaandgasweresteadilyrising.Beforeaneruption,theventatthetopofthedomeissealed.Thistrapsthemagmaandgases.Asgasbuildsup,pressurebuildsup.Eventually,theseal breaks.
Whenthesealbreaks,gasandmagmashootupward.Lavaflowsdownthevolcano.Ashspewsskyward,hundredsofmetersabovethevent.Whenallthepressurehasbeenreleased,someofthematerialresettlesoverthe vent.
Theventsealsagain.Thenthepressurebeginstobuilduntilthenext eruption.