#Volcanic Formation Rules
3 messages in this thread
Hi,
I'm involved in a world-building project in the SFLIT Forum (section 19) and
we've gotten into a discussion concerning volcanoes.
What we'd like to know is how much current theory about volcano formation,
behavior, and impact on a planetary system has been influenced by the data
collected from Martian, Venusian, and other probes in the last 20-25 years.
What are the basic concepts now?
We've got two methods for forming volcanoes: stress along the edges of crustal
plates (where they are colliding) and "hot spots" where a rupture has developed
in the crust. Are these still the essentials required for volcanoes?
And what about the impact of a large number of volcanoes. Suppose the Earth
had twice as many active volcanoes as it now does. How would our landscape and
atmosphere be different from what we have today? How much ecological impact
would there be?
Can you suggest any up-to-date references for us to check out?
Thanks in advance.
Michael
Welcome Michael
This is an odd theory that some volcanoes are deep petroleum reservoirs that
ignite and burn using the oxygen content in the earth.
It might be interesting to investigate the smoke bellowing from volcanoes and
see if it contains similar composition to burning petroleum and rock.
I have heard that planes have been covered with petroleum like residues when
traveling through the down wind clouds.
This is a purely iconoclastic unfounded rumor that has little if any proof so
far.
I am sure others here can offer expert views that I look forward to reading.
Kamron
Hi, Michael–
Welcome to the forum!
The pros who hang out here may have something to tell you if you keep watching.
If we leave you thirsty for more, you might want to try the volcanoes mail-list
discussed in INTERN.TXT in this forum's library.
Near crustal collisions and hot spots are good places for volcanoes, but so I
expect some eruptions also at crustal spreading zones, the mid-oceanic ridges.
These are generally undersea, and their eruptions seem milder than other
volcanoes and seem not to build as distinct a volcano, so they do not get
remarked as much.
One theory of dinosaur extinction has it that the massive eruptions that
produced the Deccan traps in India killed them off. I do not know how lively
that theory is today, but such huge eruptions clearly could have had great
environmental effects. I do not know whether it would be greenhouse warming,
cooling due to dust, acid rain, or what, but I would just as soon not find out
by direct observation.
It seems that when a mantle plume arrives at the surface, it often erupts
massively like that, then settles down to continue as a relatively ordinary
hotspot – the one that produced the Deccan traps is evidently the same one now
near Reunion island east of Madagascar. Let us hope no new plumes are about to
announce their arrival…
–Doug