I am 8 years old and am doing a study on volcanoes in my Quest Class (it's a gifted and talented program). I am supposed to interview an expert on Volcanoes. I hope you can answer some questions for me.

rocky Christopher Seiler

Where is the Ring of Fire located?
AROUND THE RIM OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN, STRETCHING FROM THE TIP OF SOUTH AMERICA, UP THE WEST COAST OF SOUTH, CENTERAL, AND NORTH AMERICA, ALONG THE ALEUTIANS, DOWN KAMCHATKA, JAPAN, THE MARIANAS, PHILIPPINES, ALONG INDONESIA, PAPUA NEW GUINEA, TONGA, AND ENDING AT NEW ZEALAND.

What happens to volcanoes that erupt under water?

IF THE ERUPTION IS IN REAL DEEP WATER, PROBABLY THE LAVA JUST QUIETLY OOZES OUT. THIS IS BECAUSE THE WATER PRESSURE KEEPS EXPLOSIONS FROM OCCURRING. IF IT IS IN SHALLOW WATER, HOWEVER, THE EXPLOSIONS CAN BE VERY DRAMATIC. THERE IS A GOOD MOVIE ABOUT THE VOLCANO SURTSEY, OFF THE SOUTH COAST OF ICELAND, THAT ILLUSTRATES THIS PROCESS.

When rocks move together, it makes the volcano erupt, but what makes the rocks start moving?

SCIENTISTS THINK THAT THERE IS CONVECTION GOING ON IN THE EARTH'S MANTLE. THIS CONVECTION IS LIKE WHAT GOES ON IN A POT OF SOUP ON THE STOVE. THE SOURCE OF HEAT IS AT THE BOTTOM. HOT SOUP MOVES UPWARD AND COLDER SOUP HAS TO PLUNGE DOWN TO TAKE ITS PLACE. THIS IS CALLED CONVECTION. WE THINK THAT CONVECTION IS GOING ON WITHIN THE EARTH WITH HOT MATERIAL COMING UP, MOVING HORIZONTALLY, AND THEN PLUNGING BACK DOWN. DURING THE HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT THE MANTLE DRAGS AGAINST THE BOTTOM OF THE CRUST (WHICH IS FLOATING ON THE MANTLE) AND THIS DRAG CAUSES THE PLATES TO MOVE.

Can anything stand hot lava?

SURE, THERE ARE MANY TOOLS THAT VOLCANOLOGISTS USE THAT CAN STAND BEING IN HOT LAVA. MOST OF THESE ARE MADE OUT OF TITANIUM OR STAINLESS STEEL. WHAT USUALLY HAPPENS TO MOST THINGS IS THAT THE LAVA COOLS AGAINST AN OBJECT (SUCH AS A TREE OR BUILDING), AND THIS COOLED LAVA PROVIDES INSULATION FROM THE STILL-MOLTEN LAVA. THIS IS HOW A LAVA TREE FORMS. THE TREE USUALLY EVENTUALLY DIES OR IS BURNED UP, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY NOT INSTANTANEOUS.

What other things happen to the environment when a volocano erupts?

IF IT IS A BIG EXPLOSIVE ERUPTION THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT HAPPEN. YOU MIGHT WANT TO LOOK AT QUESTION #9 OF THE PREVIOUSLY-ASKED QUESTIONS IN THE "ASK A VOLCANOLOGIST" SECTION OF VOLCANO WORLD.

Can plants grow over the lava after it cools?

OF COURSE! ALL OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS ARE VOLCANOES SO EACH ONE WAS ONCE COVERED BY FRESH LAVA. NOW THERE ARE FORESTS AND ALL KINDS OF PLANTS. IN RAINY AREAS YOU WILL FIND FERNS AND SMALL TREES SPROUTING ONLY A YEAR OR SO AFTER A FLOW HAS STOPPED. IN DRY AREAS YOU MAY FIND A FLOW THAT IS HUNDREDS OF YEARS OLD WITH HARDLY A PLANT IN SIGHT, BUT EVENTYALLY PLANTS WILL SPROUT EVEN THERE.

Thank you very much for your help! YOU'RE WELCOME.

Sincerely,

Scott Rowland, University of Hawaii 

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