What determines the viscosity of magma? What else determines whether a volcano will erupt violently or calmly

Answer The two main factors that influence how a volcano will erupt are viscosity and gas content. Both are related to the composition of the magma. Hawaiian volcanoes tend to erupt basalt, which is low in viscosity and low in gas content (about 0.5 weight percent). The gas that is present can readily escape and little pressure builds up in the magma. At the other extreme, rhyolite magmas are very viscous and can contain a lot of gas (up to 7-8 weight present). As the magma moves into the vent and the pressure drops, the gas wants to escape. The magma is very sticky and resists the expansion of the gas bubbles. Ultimately, enough bubbles grow and expand to blow the magma into ash size fragments and eject them violently into the atmosphere.

Question

Bridget Gardner

Biology

10 August, 14:17

What determines the viscosity of magma? What else determines whether a volcano will erupt violently or calmly

Answer The two main factors that influence how a volcano will erupt are viscosity and gas content. Both are related to the composition of the magma. Hawaiian volcanoes tend to erupt basalt, which is low in viscosity and low in gas content (about 0.5 weight percent). The gas that is present can readily escape and little pressure builds up in the magma. At the other extreme, rhyolite magmas are very viscous and can contain a lot of gas (up to 7-8 weight present). As the magma moves into the vent and the pressure drops, the gas wants to escape. The magma is very sticky and resists the expansion of the gas bubbles. Ultimately, enough bubbles grow and expand to blow the magma into ash size fragments and eject them violently into the atmosphere.

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Brandon Schwartz · Answer 1

The viscosity of magma is determined by its silica content. Basalt magma, on the one hand, which is often of low viscosity, has a low silica content of approximately 50% or less. Rhyolite magma, on the other hand, has high viscosity due to the high silica content of approximately 70% and more.

Gas content and temperatures of the magma are the other factors that determine an explosive or nonexplosive eruption. High temperatures and high gas content (coupled with high viscosity) cause violent explosions.