Exactly how hot is lava?
Megan Dana
Hi Megan,
This question has been asked a number of times before, once by someone named
Megan too! The answer for Hawaiian lavas is around 1170 degrees C, which
translates to 2140 degrees F. Hawaiian lava is a type called basalt, and
it is the hottest kind of lava. More viscous lava such as andesite and
dacite, which is what erupts from strato volcanoes like Mt. St. Helens and
Pinatubo, is usually 200-300 centigrade degrees cooler. This is the
interior temperature of these viscous lavas. The surfaces are much cooler
and the hottest parts are down in cracks.
Sincerely,
Scott Rowland
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