Feb 10, 2025 · Volcano, vent in the crust of Earth or another planet or satellite, from which issue eruptions of molten rock, hot rock fragments, and hot gases. The term volcano can also refer to the landform created by the accumulation of solidified lava and volcanic debris near the vent.

Volcanoes look like a lot of other mountains or large hills. But unlike other mountains, they can erupt, sending fiery lava and smoke into the area around them. Some volcanic eruptions are so explosive that they can affect the entire planet.

Volcanoes occur mainly near the boundaries of the tectonic plates that make up Earth’s surface layer. They form along belts of tension, where plates diverge, and along belts of compression, where plates converge. Nearly 1,900 volcanoes are active today or are known to have been active in historical times.

Feb 10, 2025 · A volcanic eruption is an eruption of molten rock, hot rock fragments, and hot gases through a volcano, which is a vent in a planet’s or satellite’s crust. Volcanic eruptions can cause disastrous loss of life and property.

Jan 16, 2025 · Volcanism, any of various processes and phenomena associated with the surficial discharge of molten rock, pyroclastic fragments, or hot water and steam, including volcanoes, geysers, and fumaroles. The majority of active terrestrial volcanoes and related phenomena occur where two tectonic plates meet.

4 days ago · Volcano - Eruptions, Types, Magma: Volcanoes are frequently classified by their size and shape (as is described in the section Volcanic landforms), but they can also be classified by their eruptive habits.

Volcanologist Janine Krippner dives into the details of how volcanoes work and the different types of lava flows.

Dec 29, 2024 · Volcanology deals with the formation, distribution, and classification of volcanoes as well as with their structure and the kinds of materials ejected during an eruption (such as pyroclastic flows, lava, dust, ash, and volcanic gases).

Jan 22, 2025 · Volcano - Hot Springs, Geysers, Magma: Hot springs and geysers also are manifestations of volcanic activity. They result from the interaction of groundwater with magma or with solidified but still-hot igneous rocks at shallow depths.

Volcanoes erupt because of the way heat moves beneath Earth’s surface. Heat is conveyed from the planet’s interior to its surface largely by convection—the transfer of heat by movement of a heated fluid.