What are volcanoes weaknesses?
Volcanoes are dangerous. They can kill people and damage property. Economic activity can suffer as it is hard for businesses to operate after an eruption. Habitats and landscapes are damaged by lava flows.
What type of rock is Mount Etna made of?
basalt
Mount Etna is an active stratovolcano located at the eastern coast of Sicily which is composed mainly of basalt. Its formation began at about 0.5 Ma when submarine volcanism occurred at the Gela foredeep and formed tholeiitic pillow lava.
What is the weakest volcano?
The weakest are Hawaiian and submarine, then Strombolian, followed by Vulcanian and Surtseyan….Volcanic Explosivity Index.
VEI | 0 |
---|---|
Plume height | <100 m (330 ft) |
Eruptive volume * | 1,000 m3 (35,300 cu ft) |
Eruption type | Hawaiian |
Example | Kilauea |
What does Mount Etna destroy?
Most of the city was destroyed. Catania was not the only city affected—the eruption wiped out 14 towns and villages and left about 27,000 people homeless.
What are 5 negative effects of volcanoes?
Volcanoes spew hot, dangerous gases, ash, lava, and rock that are powerfully destructive. People have died from volcanic blasts. Volcanic eruptions can result in additional threats to health, such as floods, mudslides, power outages, drinking water contamination, and wildfires.
What type of geology does Mount Etna have?
Mount Etna Geology and Hazards. Mount Etna consists of two edifices: an ancient shield volcano at its base, and the younger Mongibello stratovolcano, which was built on top of the shield. The basaltic shield volcano eruptions began about 500,000 years ago, while the stratovolcano began forming about 35,000 years ago from more trachytic lavas.
How dangerous is the Mount Etna volcano?
Etna’s current activity consists of continuous summit degassing, explosive Strombolian eruptions, and frequent basaltic lava flows. Ash clouds from the explosive eruptions are especially hazardous to aircraft, since ash that is pulled into a jet engine can melt, coat moving parts with a layer of glass, and cause the engine to shut down.
Why is there so much water in Mount Etna?
This area, on the contrary that in the rest of Sicily, is rich of water because of the hydrogeology of this volcano. In fact the lava rocks are highly permeable, act as aquifers and they lay on the impermeable and non-porous sedimentary basement.
Is Mount Etna an example of a subduction zone?
The basalt which is erupted in spectacular fountains and lava flows is certainly not typical of a subduction zone. Etna started forming 500,000 years ago on the floor of the Mediterranean sea and emerged from the sea, with Sicily, around 100,000 years ago.