2007-03-13 15:38:58 · 18 answers · asked by Kay Kay 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
A volcano is an opening (or rupture) in the Earth's surface or crust, which allows hot, molten rock, ash and gases to escape from deep below the surface. Volcanic activity involving the extrusion of rock tends to form mountains or features like mountains over a period of time.
Volcanoes are generally found where tectonic plates pull apart or are coming together. A mid-oceanic ridge, like the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, has examples of volcanoes caused by "divergent tectonic plates" pulling apart; the Pacific Ring of Fire has examples of volcanoes caused by "convergent tectonic plates" coming together. By contrast, volcanoes are usually not created where two tectonic plates slide past one another. Volcanoes can also form where there is stretching of the Earth's crust and where the crust grows thin (called "non-hotspot intraplate volcanism"), such as in the African Rift Valley, the European Rhine Graben with its Eifel volcanoes, the Wells Gray-Clearwater Volcanic Field and the Rio Grande Rift in North America.
Finally, volcanoes can be caused by "mantle plumes", so-called "hotspots"; these hotspots can occur far from plate boundaries, such as the Hawaiian Islands. Interestingly, hotspot volcanoes are also found elsewhere in the solar system, especially on rocky planets and moons.
2007-03-13 15:40:46 · answer #1 · answered by asphyxia 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It is a mountain containing a lot of lava when it is ready to erupt the top part pops off the volcano and alot of hot stuff comes out. If the volcano is strong enough, then therewill be alot of ash like what happened to Pompeii
2007-03-13 15:43:53 · answer #2 · answered by Ms. Thang 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A volcano is an opening (or rupture) in the Earth's surface or crust, which allows hot, molten rock, ash and gases to escape from deep below the surface
2007-03-13 15:42:00 · answer #3 · answered by [?] 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
...a very "HOT" mountain top where "stuff" from the center of the Earth (rocks, minerals, lava and "stuff") pour out onto the Earth... sometimes explode out upon the Earth or even under the oceans... The Hawaiian Islands are the result of volcano's...and they still are evolving...
2007-03-13 15:43:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
volcano is an opening {or rupture}in the Earth's surface or crust, which allows hot, molten rock, ash and gases to escape from deep below the surface.
2007-03-13 15:41:37 · answer #5 · answered by Dee 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
a volcano is any opening in the earth's crust where magma spews out. it doesnt need to be on a mountain. it can also be underwater.
2007-03-13 17:48:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Basically, they are vent pipes for the molten core of the earth and sometimes powerfully explosive pressure relief orifices belching flaming rocks, various gasses, and lava of several types.
2007-03-13 20:54:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
a mountain with a hole that leads the earth's core. it doesn't have to be active to be a volcano.
2007-03-13 15:41:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
A whole in the ground connected to the earths core.
2007-03-13 15:41:30 · answer #9 · answered by kyle 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
vent: a fissure in the earth's crust (or in the surface of some other planet) through which molten lava and gases erupt
2007-03-13 15:41:28 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋