Chapter 6: Volcanism
Learning Objectives
After carefully reading this chapter, completing the exercises within it, and answering the questions at the end, you should be able to:
- Define volcanism and differentiate between explosive and effusive volcanism
- Describe the three ways magma can be generated and identify which mechanism takes place at different volcanic settings
- Explain the process that causes volcanoes to erupt and how eruption behavior (i.e., effusive vs. explosive) varies with viscosity, gas content, and conduit geometry
- Place the volcanic eruption categories in order from least to most explosive (i.e., Hawaiian, Strombolian, Vulcanian, and Plinian)
- Differentiate between the different volcano shapes and relate each to an eruption style
- Explain why the type and style of volcanism that occurs on a planetary body varies across the solar system (including cryovolcanism!)
- Compare and contrast volcanism on Mercury, Venus, Mars, Earth, and the Moon (e.g., type/setting/style of volcanism, extent/distribution of volcanism, size/shape of volcanoes)
- Describe what a caldera is and distinguish between calderas and eruption craters
- List the planetary bodies that show evidence of cryovolcanism and summarize why these bodies are good candidates for hosting life
