Volcanism analyzes the functioning of volcanoes.
Volcanism is a concept linked to Vulcan , the god of fire and methane according to Roman mythology. For geology , it is the system that explains the formation of the globe from the action of internal fire.
Volcanoes are conduits that establish direct communication between the Earth 's surface and the deep levels of the crust. A volcano, therefore, is an opening that is usually found in mountains and that, every certain period of time, expels lava, ash, gases and smoke, in a process called eruption .
Specifically, it is established that there are three types of materials that are expelled to the surface when the eruption takes place: lava , which is liquid and originates two types of volcanoes (conical and shield); pyroclasts , which are the solid part of the eruption and are formed from the clumps of lava that are generated (there are very diverse types, such as blocks, lapilli, volcanic dust and volcanic bombs); and phases (the gaseous part of any volcanic eruption , both fumaroles and solfataras or skunks).
These eruptions occur when magma (a mixture of molten rock and gases, among other components) under pressure begins to rise until it reaches the surface through the volcano's vent. The types of volcanic eruptions are determined by temperature, composition, elements dissolved in the magma and viscosity, for example.
Types of volcanoes
Among the types of volcanoes, it is possible to distinguish between an inactive or extinct volcano (when there are no records of eruptive activity) and an active volcano (those that record eruptive activity or that recorded it recently).
In addition to those mentioned, we must not forget the volcanic shields , complex cones , composite volcanoes or lava plateaus .
Supervolcanoes are the type of volcano that produces the most voluminous eruptions on Earth . The volume of magma expelled is usually capable of altering the climate for years and, of course, of abruptly modifying the landscape around the volcano.
Volcanism studies the characteristics of volcanic eruptions.
Volcanism on Io
In addition to all of the above, it is important to highlight the existence of what is known as Io volcanism . This term refers to one of the satellites of the planet Jupiter , which has the particularity of generating volcanic wells, rivers of lava, or plumes of sulfur dioxide.
Specifically, the scientific activities carried out in this regard have revealed the existence of different types of eruptions such as explosive or flow eruptions.