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Volcano Terminology

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The study of volcanoes, or Volcanology, includes many odd terms.

  • caldera
  • vesicularity
  • pahoehoe
  • rheology
  • lahar

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    Pronunciation and origin

    cadera


    Pronunciation: kal-'der-&, kol-, -'dir-
    Function: noun
    Etymology: Spanish, literally, caldron, from Late Latin caldaria
    Date: 1691
    a volcanic crater that has a diameter many times that of the vent and is formed by collapse of the central part of a volcano or by explosions of extraordinary violence

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    vesicular


    Pronunciation: v&-'si-ky&-l&r
    Function: adjective
    Etymology: New Latin vesicula vesicle, from Latin, small bladder
    Date: 1715

    1. containing, composed of, or characterized by vesicles <vesicular lava>
    2. having the form or structure of a vesicle
    3. of or relating to vesicles

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    Pahoehoe


    is a Hawaiian term for basaltic lava that has a smooth, hummocky, or ropy surface. A pahoehoe flow typically advances as a series of small lobes and toes that continually break out from a cooled crust. The surface texture of pahoehoe flows varies widely, displaying all kinds of bizarre shapes often referred to as lava sculpture

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    rheology


    Pronunciation: rE-'�-l&-jE
    Function: noun
    Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary
    Date: 1929
    a science dealing with the deformation and flow of matter; also : the ability to flow or be deformed
    rhe�o�log�i�cal /"rE'l�-ji-kl/ adjective
    rhe�o�log�i�cal�ly /-k(&-)lE/ adverb
    rhe�ol�o�gist /rE-'�-l&-jist/ noun

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    lahar


    Pronunciation: 'l�-"h�r
    Function: noun
    Etymology: Javanese
    Date: 1929
    a mudflow composed of volcanic debris and water

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    nuée ardente


    or "glowing cloud" was first used by La Croix (1904) in his description of the volcanic flows he observed in the 1902 eruption of Mt Pelée, a historically active volcano on the island of Martinique.

    back to list There are many different types of volcanic eruptions and landforms. They can be classified according to the degree of "explosiveness" and the height of the eruption column:

    Investigate each type by clicking on a picture

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