Superheated magma may power towering lava fountains
Scientists studying magma from the 2021 Tajogaite eruption on La Palma have discovered that extreme heat can dramatically change how an eruption unfolds. When magma becomes superheated, it can dissolve the tiny crystal seeds that normally trigger crystallization, allowing the molten rock to remain fluid far longer as it rises.
Scientists from The University of Manchester have discovered a heat-driven process within magma that could explain why some volcanoes erupt in dramatic lava fountains while others release lava more slowly. The team studied magma from the 2021 Tajogaite eruption on La Palma, Spain, and found that superheating - when magma becomes hotter than the temperature at which crystals stay stable - can delay crystal formation as it rises towards the surface.
This delay occurs because intense heat dissolves existing crystals that typically act as seeds for new crystal growth. Superheating also rearranges the magma at a microscopic level, making its internal structure more uniform and less conducive to crystal development. These changes can impact both the speed at which magma ascends and the ease with which volcanic gases escape.
The researchers believe this newly recognized role of superheating could improve volcanic hazard assessments by providing new insights into how a magma's temperature history affects its crystallization before and during an eruption.
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