Mount Erebus

About Mount Erebus:

• It is the world’s southernmost active volcano.
• Location: It is situated on Ross Island, Antarctica.
• It was discovered in 1841 by the British explorer Sir James Clark Ross, who named it after his ship, the Erebus.
• It stands at an elevation of about 3,794 meters (12,448 feet).
• It’s a stratovolcano characterized by a conical shape and layers of hardened lava, tephra, and volcanic ash.
• Mount Erebus is known for its persistent lava lake.
  • The lake has been active since at least 1972 and is one of only a few long-lived lava lakes on Earth.
  • It constantly churns and occasionally spews bombs of molten rock in Strombolian eruptions.
• Because the volcano is in a remote location, researchers monitor it using satellites.
• The largest Antarctic settlement—McMurdo Station, operated by the United States—stands within sight of the volcano (about 40 kilometers or 25 miles away). 

Q1: What is a Stratovolcano?

It is a tall, steep, and cone-shaped type of volcano. Unlike flat shield volcanoes, they have higher peaks. They are typically found above subduction zones, and they are often part of large volcanically active regions, such as the Ring of Fire that frames much of the Pacific Ocean. Stratovolcanoes comprise the largest percentage (~60%) of the Earth's individual volcanoes, and most are characterized by eruptions of andesite and dacite, lavas that are cooler and more viscous than basalt. These more viscous lavas allow gas pressures to build up to high levels. Therefore, these volcanoes often suffer explosive eruptions. 

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