Volcanoes have had a significant impact on the lives of people living near their vents. But have you ever wondered what a volcano is?
What is a Volcano?
Indonesia, Japan, and the USA are considered the three countries with the most active volcanoes.
A volcano is a mountain with an opening at the top, through which molten minerals with high temperature and pressure are expelled at various times. Volcanic eruptions are a natural phenomenon on Earth or other planets that are still seismically active, caused by tectonic plates moving over a core of molten minerals. When a volcano erupts, a portion of the energy hidden deep within the planet is released.
Globally, Indonesia, Japan, and the USA are recognized as the three countries with the most active volcanoes, in descending order of activity.
Types of Volcanoes
Based on their activity, volcanoes are classified into three types:
- Active volcanoes.
- Volcanoes that are recharging with magma.
- Extinct volcanoes.
Formation of Volcanoes
The process of volcano formation
Volcanoes are formed due to the extremely high temperatures beneath the Earth’s surface, which increase as you go deeper towards the Earth’s core. At depths of about 20 miles, the temperature can become hot enough to melt most types of rock.
As the rock melts, it expands and requires more space. In certain areas of the Earth, mountain ranges are continuously uplifted. The pressure below these mountains is not great, allowing a reservoir of molten rock, also known as magma, to form beneath.
This molten rock is continuously pushed upwards, leading to the gradual increase in height of the mountains. When the pressure in the magma chambers exceeds the pressure exerted by the rock above, the magma will erupt and form a volcano.
During an eruption, hot gases and other solid materials are also ejected into the atmosphere. The materials expelled from the volcano’s vent will fall down the slopes and base of the mountain, forming a conical shape.
