volcanoes beautiful killers

VOLCANOES- BEAUTIFUL KILLERS

Nathalie Nicole Brandes

Professor of Geology

(Courtesy New Line Cinema)

Tongariro, Manawatu-Wanganui , New Zealand

Tongariro, Manawatu-Wanganui , New Zealand

Erta Ale, Afar Region, Ethiopia

Mt. St. Helens, Washington, USA (Courtesy USGS)

Kilauea, Hawai’i, USA

Soufrière Hills, Montserrat (Courtesy Smithsonian Institute)

Pompeii, Campania, Italy

(Courtesy University of Auckland)

• Each lava composition has a different viscosity

• Viscosity is controlled by:

– Temperature

– Silica content

Carrizozo Malpais, New Mexico, USA

(Courtesy Ed Llewellin)

(Courtesy Explore Volcanoes)

The Three V’s of Volcanology

• Volume

• Volatiles

• Viscosity

• These three determine the eruption type and landform created

(Courtesy Florida State University)

Laki, Suðurland, Iceland

(Courtesy Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg)

Vantage, Washington, USA

(Courtesy University of Colorado Denver)

Rangitoto Island, Auckland, New Zealand

Rangitoto Island, Auckland, New Zealand (Google Earth Image)

Mt. Etna, Sicily, Italy

Sunset Crater, Arizona, USA

Eppelsberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

Parícutin, Michoacán, Mexico (Courtesy Michigan Technological University)

Parícutin, Michoacán, Mexico (Courtesy Michigan Technological University)

Mt. St. Helens, Washington, USA

Mt. St. Helens, Washington, USA

(Courtesy Dennis Tasa)

Ruapehu, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand

(Courtesy Dr. Paula Jefferis-Nilsen)

Jemez Mountains, New Mexico, USA

Jemez Caldera, New Mexico (Courtesy NASA)

Valle Grande, New Mexico, USA

(Courtesy Geology.com)

Schalkenmehrener Maar, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

(Courtesy Encyclopædia Britannica)

Waha‘ula Visitor Center, Hawai’i, USA (Courtesy J.D. Griggs)

Ruapehu, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand (Courtesy Geoff Mackley)

Mt. St. Helens, Washington, USA

Mt. St. Helens, Washington, USA (Courtesy USGS)

Eyjafjallajökull, Suðurland, Iceland (Courtesy Sigurður Stefnisson)

Mayon Volcano, Philippines (Courtesy USGS)

Taupo, Waikato, New Zealand

Louis-Auguste Cyparis (Photographer unknown)

Ruapehu, Manawatu-Wanganui , New Zealand

VOLCANIC EXPLOSIVITY INDEX (VEI)

• Scale of 0-8

• Based on:

– Volume of pyroclastics

– Eruption column height

– Duration of eruption

(Courtesy Smithsonian Institute)

(Courtesy Birgit Hartinger)

(Strohn, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)