During a quiet eruption lava flows from vents, setting fire to, and then burying, everything in its path.
During an explosive eruption, a volcano can belch out hot clouds of deadly gases as well as ash, cinders, and bombs
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The difference between quiet and violent eruptions is primarily due to the composition of the magma and the presence of gas. Quiet eruptions, such as Hawaii's shield volcanoes, typically have low viscosity magma with low gas content, resulting in gentle flows. Violent eruptions, like those of stratovolcanoes, have high viscosity magma with high gas content, causing pressure build-up and explosive eruptive events.
an explosive eruption hurls out pyroclastic material
a quiet eruption just has small lava flows
They both most commonly occur at or near to the boundaries of tectonic plates.
They both also have the potential to cause significant damage.
Quiet erruptions mean the lava lets gas bubbles escape easily causing an overflow of lava. Explosive eruptions mean gas bubbles are traped inside the magma causing lots of tephra and smoke.
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Mt. Pinatubo is known to have explosive eruptions. The violence of an eruption is influenced by the amount of dissolved gas in the magma, the viscosity of the magma, and the presence of water or other fluids. If the magma has high gas content, is highly viscous, and interacts with water, it can lead to a more violent eruption.
Potential difference
The most violent eruptions in volcanoes are generally caused by extremely high gas pressures within the magma chamber. When the gas pressure becomes too high, it can lead to explosive eruptions that release large amounts of ash, gases, and volcanic material with high velocity and destructive power. The composition of the magma, particularly if it is rich in silica, also plays a role in determining the explosiveness of a volcanic eruption.
Felsic magmas produce the most violent reputations. This is because felsic magmas are the most viscous and thus can hold the most gasses. These trapped gases can expand explosively when they reach lower pressure near the surface.
The difference in temperatures between the Equator and the north and south poles, plus the rotation of the earth, causes the air currents.