Less hot explosions

1996/05/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Geologia

Experts tell us when volcanoes are dangerous and when they are calm. From now on, who are neither experts nor experts, we have to look at the volcanoes with more respect than now. For the first time they have done laboratory tests with magma and the results have been surprised by the scientist.

There are volcanoes with strong eruptions and others that remain stuck for a long time. The explosion of the laboratory was brutal and was divided into a thousand pieces. So far nothing special. The special was the condition of explosion: the pressure drops to the blow and the explosion occurs at room temperature. Experts considered that the magma needed very high explosion temperatures, but it has been seen that the temperature is not very sensitive.

The only necessary condition for the magma to explode is that it has a lot of silicate and in the areas where the oceanic plate penetrates under the continental there is a lot of silicate.

The experts have found no explanation for the event that has surprised them, but they indicate that they are in the process of resolution. Cold or heat, in case you will have to distrust all the volcanoes.