The keys to the Old Summit Eruption: How does a stonbolian volcano work?

The stromboli volcano, located on the Eolias Islands, in the middle of the Tyrrhenian Sea, serves as a global terminology to describe the eruptions that are cha

The keys to the Old Summit Eruption: How does a stonbolian volcano work?

The stromboli volcano, located on the Eolias Islands, in the middle of the Tyrrhenian Sea, serves as a global terminology to describe the eruptions that are characterized by rhythmic explosive phases (with periods of variable extension calm). In the Old Summit volcano, in La Palma, something similar is happening. At 15.12 hours on Sunday the Magma began to break through the crust in the form of a lava freezing gas. The questions about how the event originated and its subsequent development have in vilo the population. But, how can it affect that the eruption is of a stonbolin type?

"The volcanic buildings that are formed are usually more or less small. This type of model is characterized by not being excessively explosive or presenting large lava flows," explains the world José Luis Barrera, Vulcanologist of the Official College of Geologists. It is called building to the accumulation of volcanic products (fluid lavas, lapillis and ash) by the succession of eruptive episodes. These present a conical shape, can count on different heights and are located around a central hole or eruptive mouth, which will work as the output duct of the materials. The more they are believed and larger, the greater power will have this output. "The cones that are also formed are medium or small," says the expert in telephone conversation.

This means that the destructive capacity of the volcano is lower compared to other typologies such as the Vulcanian or the Plinian (also known as Vesubiana). The first is characterized by very violent explosions with a large amount of gases and very viscous lava, as is the case of Vulcan in Sicily; The second, known to bury the city of Pompeii, presents a very acidic magma and a high degree of explosiveness that expel large volumes of fungus gas that can exceed 30 km of height.

"The volcanic activity of less risk is the Hawaiian, typical of these islands, since it only produces lava, without gases or explosions," says Barrera. Therefore, within this classification the stonbolian volcano is not among the most aggressive on the planet, although it does represent a considerable level of danger. In addition, from the explosive point of view, the damage will not be much because the craters that have been formed are not surrounded by constructions or homes, according to the vulcanologist.

The worrying phenomenon is around the lava, which has already begun to bury everything you find in its path. "Razzes fields of crops, platterans, homes ... we'll see what happens when I get to the sea. I could keep razing buildings from the coast," declares the expert.

When it is sporadic eruptions, the emission of lava does not happen continuously. It is a lava that is emitted at lower temperatures of 1000 ° C and therefore is not too fluid, but it can reach more than 12km without solid and presents remarkable release of gases. This intermittent nature of the palm volcano can generate that the eruption dilates over time.

Date Of Update: 22 September 2021, 20:53