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The Eruption of Fuego

The eruption of Fuego
The Stratovolcano Fuego erupted in Guatemala erupted on October 17, 2003 around 0007. Fuego created a 1.5 kilometer high gas and ash plume above the crater (Global Volcanism Project, 2003). After the eruption there were other minor eruptions and seismic activity. This even caused a small avalanche.
The volcano Fuego was a stratovolcano. Stratovolcanos have very steep slopes and are very tall. This is because stratovolcanos produce a lava with very high silica contents. This lava travels very slowly because of the high amount of polymerization, or the constant bonding between the silica tetrahedrons. As the lava runs down the slope it often stops before reaching the bottom and then cools due to the lower temperatures of 700-900 degrees Celsius (Abbot, 2002). This creates a steeper slope and a taller volcano. These volcanos often occur on subduction zone (Mackenzie 2003). Eruptions from stratovolcanos are often very explosive; this is because lavas ...

Posted by: Tricia F. Doyle

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