Can a Dormant Volcano Erupt Again
Volcanoes are an impressive force of nature. Physically, they dominate the landscape, and have an active role in shaping our planet's geography. When they are actively erupting, they are an extremely dangerous and destructive force. But when they are passive, the soil they enrich can become very fertile, leading to settlements and cities being built nearby.
Such is the nature of volcanoes, and is the reason why nosotros distinguish between those that are "active" and those that are "dormant". But what exactly is the differences between the two, and how do geologists tell? This is actually a complicated question, because there's no manner to know for sure if a volcano is all washed erupting, or if it's going to get active again.
Put simply, the most popular way for classifying volcanoes comes down to the frequency of their eruption. Those that erupt regularly are called active, while those that have erupted in historical times merely are now quiet are called fallow (or inactive). Only in the terminate, knowing the difference all comes downward to timing!
Agile Volcano:
Currently, at that place is no consensus among volcanologists about what constitutes "active". Volcanoes – like all geological features – tin accept very long lifespans, varying between months to even millions of years. In the by few k years, many of Earth's volcanoes take erupted many times over, but currently testify no signs of impending eruption.
As such, the term "active" can hateful just agile in terms of human lifespans, which are entirely different from the lifespans of volcanoes. Hence why scientists often consider a volcano to exist active only if it is showing signs of unrest (i.e. unusual convulsion activity or pregnant new gas emissions) that hateful information technology is about to erupt.
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program defines a volcano as active only if it has erupted in the last 10,000 years. Another ways for determining if a volcano is active comes from the International Association of Volcanology, who utilise historical fourth dimension as a reference (i.eastward. recorded history).
By this definition, those volcanoes that have erupted in the course of homo history (which includes more than than 500 volcanoes) are divers every bit agile. However, this also is problematic, since this varies from region to region – with some areas cataloging volcanoes for thousands of years, while others just have records for the past few centuries.
As such, an "active volcano" can be best described as one that's currently in a state of regular eruptions. Maybe it's going off right now, or had an event in the terminal few decades, or geologists expect it to erupt once more very soon. In short, if its spewing fire or likely to again in the nigh hereafter, then it's active!
Dormant Volcano:
Meanwhile, a dormant volcano is used to refer to those that are capable of erupting, and volition probably erupt again in the hereafter, but hasn't had an eruption for a very long time. Here also, definitions get complicated since it is difficult to distinguish between a volcano that is just not active at present, and one that will remain inactive.
Volcanoes are often considered to be extinct if there are no written records of its activity. Nevertheless, volcanoes may remain dormant for a long period of fourth dimension. For example, the volcanoes of Yellowstone, Toba, and Vesuvius were all idea to be extinct before their historic and devastating eruptions.
The same is true of the Fourpeaked Mountain eruption in Alaska in 2006. Prior to this, the volcano was thought to be extinct since it had non erupted for over ten,000 years. Compare that to Mountain Grímsvötn in south-east Iceland, which erupted three times in the past 12 years (in 2011, 2008 and 2004, respectively).
And so a dormant volcano is actually part of the active volcano nomenclature, it's just that it's not currently erupting.
Extinct Volcano:
Geologists also employ the category of extinct volcano to refer to volcanoes that have become cut off from their magma supply. There are many examples of extinct volcanoes around the world, many of which are establish in the Hawaiian-Emperor Seamount Chain in the Pacific Ocean, or stand individually in some areas.
For example, the Shiprock volcano, which stands in Navajo Nation territory in New Mexico, is an example of a solitary extinct volcano. Edinburgh Castle, located just outside the capitol of Edinburgh, Scotland, is famously located atop an extinct volcano.
But of course, determining if a volcano is truly extinct is often difficult, since some volcanoes tin can have eruptive lifespans that mensurate into the millions of years. Equally such, some volcanologists refer to extinct volcanoes as inactive, and some volcanoes once thought to exist extinct are now referred to as fallow.
In brusque, knowing if a volcano is active, dormant, or extinct is complicated and all comes downward to timing. And when it comes to geological features, timing is quite difficult for us mere mortals. Individuals and generations accept limited life spans, nations rise and autumn, and even entire civilisation sometimes bite the grit.
Only volcanic formations? They tin endure for millions of years! Knowing if at that place still life in them requires hard work, adept record-keeping, and (above all) immense patience.
Nosotros take written many articles about volcanoes for Universe Today. Here's Ten Interesting Facts Most Volcanoes, What are the Different Types of Volcanoes?, How Practice Volcanoes Erupt?, What is a Volcano Conduit?, and What are the Benefits of Volcanoes?
Want more resources on the World? Here's a link to NASA's Human Spaceflight page, and hither'southward NASA's Visible World.
We have besides recorded an episode of Astronomy Cast about World, as part of our tour through the Solar System – Episode 51: Earth.
Sources:
- USGS – The Dynamic Planet
- Wikipedia – Volcano
- OSU – Types of Volcanoes
- Smithsonian Institute – Global Volcanism Program
zunigathadisitud1984.blogspot.com
Source: https://www.universetoday.com/31654/difference-between-active-and-dormant-volcanoes/
0 Response to "Can a Dormant Volcano Erupt Again"
Post a Comment