Here’s a list of vocabulary related to volcanoes:
Volcano: A vent in the Earth’s crust through which molten rock, ash, and gases are ejected.
Magma: Molten rock beneath the Earth’s surface.
Lava: Molten rock that erupts from a volcano onto the Earth’s surface.
Eruption: The sudden release of magma, gases, and other materials from a volcano.
Crater: A bowl-shaped depression at the summit of a volcano, usually formed by explosive eruptions or collapse.
Ash: Fragments of pulverized rock, minerals, and volcanic glass ejected during an eruption.
Pyroclastic Flow: A fast-moving mixture of hot gases, ash, and volcanic debris that flows down the slope of a volcano during an eruption.
Vent: An opening or fissure in the Earth’s surface through which volcanic materials are emitted.
Caldera: A large, basin-shaped depression formed by the collapse of a volcano’s summit area after a major eruption.
Tephra: Fragments of volcanic material, such as ash, lapilli, and bombs, that are ejected during an eruption.
Lahar: A mudflow or debris flow composed of water-saturated volcanic materials, often triggered by heavy rainfall or melting of ice and snow on a volcano.
Volcanic Cone: The conical-shaped mountain or hill formed by the accumulation of erupted materials around a vent.
Fumarole: A vent on a volcano’s surface through which volcanic gases, steam, and smoke are released.
Crustal Plate: A rigid section of the Earth’s lithosphere that moves relative to other plates. Volcanoes often form at plate boundaries.
Lava Tube: A tunnel or conduit formed by flowing lava that solidifies along the edges and roof, allowing the molten lava inside to continue flowing.
Sill: A horizontal intrusion of magma between layers of preexisting rock, solidified beneath the Earth’s surface.
Dike: A vertical or nearly vertical intrusion of magma that cuts across preexisting rock layers.
Pumice: A light, porous volcanic rock formed from frothy lava that contains trapped gas bubbles.
Shield Volcano: A broad, gently sloping volcano characterized by the eruption of fluid basaltic lava.
Stratovolcano: A steep-sided composite volcano composed of alternating layers of solidified lava, ash, and volcanic rocks.
Fissure: A long, narrow crack or fracture in the Earth’s crust from which lava can erupt.
Hotspot: A location in the mantle where molten material rises to the Earth’s surface, forming a volcano. Hotspots remain stationary while tectonic plates move over them.
Tephra Fall: The deposition of volcanic ash, lapilli, and bombs on the ground during an eruption.
Volcanic Ash Cloud: A plume of fine particles, including ash and gases, that is ejected into the atmosphere during a volcanic eruption.
Viscosity: A measure of a substance’s resistance to flow. High-viscosity magma is thick and sticky, while low-viscosity magma is fluid.
Volcanic Bomb: A large, rounded mass of lava that is ejected as a projectile during an explosive eruption and solidifies before hitting the ground.
Vent: An opening or fissure in the Earth’s surface through which volcanic materials are emitted.
Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI): A scale that measures the relative explosiveness and magnitude of volcanic eruptions based on the volume of erupted material, eruption column height, and other factors.
Fumarole: A vent on a volcano’s surface through which volcanic gases, steam, and smoke are released.
Lahar: A mudflow or debris flow composed of water-saturated volcanic materials, often triggered by heavy rainfall or melting of ice and snow on a volcano.
Lava Fountain: A vertical jet or spray of molten lava ejected from a vent during an eruption.
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2): A noxious gas released during volcanic eruptions that can contribute to air pollution and the formation of acid rain.
Cinder Cone: A small, steep-sided volcano built from particles and blobs of lava ejected from a vent.
Lava Dome: A bulbous mound of viscous lava that accumulates around a vent and often grows within the crater of a stratovolcano.
Phreatic Eruption: A volcanic eruption caused by the sudden interaction of groundwater with magma, resulting in a steam-driven explosion.
Intraplate Volcano: A volcano that forms away from plate boundaries, often associated with mantle plumes and hotspots.
Pahoehoe: A type of basaltic lava flow characterized by its smooth, ropy or billowy texture.
Pillow Lava: Lava that erupts underwater, forming rounded or pillow-shaped structures due to rapid cooling and solidification.
Volcanic Winter: A period of prolonged cooling and reduced sunlight caused by large volcanic eruptions that inject ash and gases into the upper atmosphere.
Pyroclastic Surge: A high-speed turbulent cloud of hot gas, ash, and rock fragments that rushes down the flank of a volcano during a pyroclastic flow.
