III. Eruptive Mechanisms

Eruption Energy

The energy release during a volcanic eruption is a summation of varied and often offsetting forces:

(a)   heat energy contained in the solid and fluid products;

(b)   heat and mechanical energy required to heat subsurface rocks and vaporize meteoric water;

(c)   mechanical energy expended by magma and gas expansion; and,

(d)   work done against gravity during ascent of the magma.