Surtseyan eruption

Surtsey was the most famous example of a Surtseyan eruption.
Surtseyan eruption: 1 water vapor cloud, 2 cypressoid ash jet, 3 crater, 4 water, 5 layers of lava and ash, 6 stratum, 7 magma conduit, 8 magma chamber, 9 dike

A Surtseyan eruption is a type of volcanic eruption that takes place in shallow seas or lakes. It is named after the island of Surtsey off the southern coast of Iceland.[1]

These eruptions are commonly phreatomagmatic eruptions, representing violent explosions caused by rising basaltic or andesitic magma coming into contact with abundant, shallow groundwater or surface water. Tuff rings, pyroclastic cones of primarily ash, are built by explosive disruption of rapidly cooled magma.

Characteristics

Although similar in nature to phreatomagmatic eruptions, there are several specific characteristics:[2]

Examples of Surtseyan eruptions

References

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