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

TheplanwastohiketothetopofSantaMaría.Here,theteamcouldobservethelavadomefrom above. 


InsidetheCalientedome,magmaandgaswererising.Beforeaneruption,theventofthedomeissealed.Magmaandgasesaretrapped.Pressurebuilds.Theseal breaks.

Whenthesealbreaks,gasisreleased.Magmaoozesoutaslava.It flowslikethickrivers.Ashisforcedhighintothe sky.


Thensomeofthematerialresettlesoverthevent.Theventsealsagain.Thepressurebeginstobuildagainuntilthenext eruption.