Lava lake

Lava lakes are large volumes of molten lava, usually basaltic, contained in a volcanic vent, crater, or broad depression. The term is used to describe both lava lakes that are wholly or partly molten and those that are solidified. Lava lakes can form in three ways:[1]

  1. From one or more vents in a crater that erupts enough lava to partially fill the crater
  2. When lava pours into a crater or broad depression and partially fills the crater
  3. Atop a new vent that erupts lava continuously for a period of several weeks or more and slowly builds a crater higher and higher above the surrounding ground.

There have been four volcanoes with persistent or near persistent lava lakes during recent decades:

Three other volcanoes have displayed intermittent lava lake activity recently:

Kilauea has the unique distinction of having two lava lakes: One in the Halema`uma`u vent cavity within the summit caldera, and another located within the Pu'u O'o cone located on the east rift zone of the volcano.[7]

References

  1. ^ http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/images/pglossary/LavaLake.php Lava lake - USGS
  2. ^ "Kīlauea". Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1301-02-. 
  3. ^ "Nyiragongo". Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0203-03=. 
  4. ^ "Masaya". Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1404-10=. 
  5. ^ "Ambrum". Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0507-04=. 
  6. ^ "Villarrica". Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1507-12=. 
  7. ^ http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php - USGS

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Geological Survey document "VHP Photo Glossary: Lava lake" by the Volcano Hazards Program.

External links