Lava lake
A persistent pool of molten lava exposed at a volcanic vent. Its level and surface activity change as magma rises, circulates, and drains.
Magma convection: The movement of magma driven by differences in temperature, composition, and density. Convection circulates heat and fresh magma through a lake, shaping its surface and persistence.
Mount Erebus: An active volcano on Ross Island in Antarctica, known for a persistent phonolitic lava lake. Its summit lake is a well-studied example of long-lived, gas-rich lava activity.
Volcanic monitoring: The systematic observation of volcanoes to detect changes in activity and assess hazards. Changes in lake level, surface motion, and gas release can signal changes in a volcanic system.
Lava dome: A steep-sided mound formed when viscous lava accumulates around a volcanic vent. Unlike a lake, a dome is mostly solidified lava piled above its vent.
Volcanic conduit: A passage through which magma and volcanic gases travel toward the surface. The geometry and behavior of the conduit help determine how a lake is supplied and drained.
Lava lake overturn: A rapid resurfacing event in which crusted lava sinks and hotter material rises. Overturns reveal circulation beneath a lake’s cooling surface.
Erta Ale: A shield volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar Depression, historically known for persistent lava lakes. Its summit crater has hosted some of the most frequently observed lava lakes.
Volcanic gas monitoring: The measurement of gases emitted by volcanoes to track magma movement and degassing. Gas flux and composition help interpret activity at exposed lava lakes.
Lava flow: A stream or sheet of molten rock moving across the ground during an eruption. A flow spreads away from its vent; a lake remains pooled at or near the vent.
Magma viscosity: A measure of a magma’s resistance to flow, strongly affected by temperature, composition, and crystals. Viscosity influences whether magma circulates freely or forms a sluggish, crusted lake.