Home

photos

travel

volcanoes

THEMATIC VOLCANO PHOTO GALLERY:

- Lava fountains -


Brief explanation:

Lava fountains are sustained jets of (usually very) fluid lava into the atmosphere. Lava fountains occur commonly on basaltic volcanoes such as Kilauea, or Etna.
The fountain gains its momentum by the expansion of gas bubbles that dissolve from the magma as pressure falls while it is rising in the conduit.
Heights, appearance, duration and erupted volumes of lava fountains can vary greatly. Strong fountains can reach several hundreds of meters. Lava fountains of Vesuvius in 1779 have even reached an estimated height of 3 km !

 

Etna lava fountain
400m pulsating lava fountain.
 Etna, 24 July 2001.


 

Lava fountain on Etna
Similar lava fountain during Etna's next flank eruption.
Etna, 30 Oct. 2002.
Etna SE crater lava fountain Etna SE crater lava fountain Etna lava fountain Etna lava fountain
50-100m lava fountain from Etna's SE crater on 15 Feb. 2000. 500m lava fountain from Etna's SE crater on 16 Feb. 2000. The same fountain as above at night. 50-100m fountain from La Spagnola vent. Etna, 17 June 2001.