Stopping a Volcano












1












$begingroup$


I've seen in multiple forms of fiction the sort of joking notion of stopping a volcano from erupting by just... plugging up the top with something? Like, a large and sufficiently heavy rock?



While the idea is obviously silly and extremely impractical, the prevalence of this trope got me thinking: is it actually impossible?



If you were to somehow fill in or "plug" the main crater of an active volcano, either with a single large object or maybe by filling it in with dirt or concrete or something, would that actually temporarily repress the eruption? Or would the pressure just blast the obstruction out again, or open a new vent out the side, or do something like Mt. Saint Helens did and blow out the whole side of the mountain? Just a fun thought, I know it probably wouldn't work but I'd wondered if anyone had actually done any sort of testing or research on the subject.






reality-check volcanoes







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  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Many volcanoes are naturally plugged. It may only get worse.
    $endgroup$
    – Alexander
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    It looks like you almost answered it already ;-)
    $endgroup$
    – NofP
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    You seem to have answered your own question. Pressure will increase until something ruptures, whether that be the plug, or the flank of the volcano. At some point, it WILL explode.
    $endgroup$
    – Arkenstein XII
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    And for the record, yours is nowhere near the silliest question this site has seen. Heck, it might not even rank.
    $endgroup$
    – JBH
    3 hours ago








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Perhaps instead of the "plug it" solution which is combatting a symptom, could someone answer if you could relieve the pressure? Perhaps a large-scale pumping effort? For stakes lets say its a supervulcano near large population centers and you have to get it quiet.
    $endgroup$
    – Demigan
    3 hours ago
















1












$begingroup$


I've seen in multiple forms of fiction the sort of joking notion of stopping a volcano from erupting by just... plugging up the top with something? Like, a large and sufficiently heavy rock?



While the idea is obviously silly and extremely impractical, the prevalence of this trope got me thinking: is it actually impossible?



If you were to somehow fill in or "plug" the main crater of an active volcano, either with a single large object or maybe by filling it in with dirt or concrete or something, would that actually temporarily repress the eruption? Or would the pressure just blast the obstruction out again, or open a new vent out the side, or do something like Mt. Saint Helens did and blow out the whole side of the mountain? Just a fun thought, I know it probably wouldn't work but I'd wondered if anyone had actually done any sort of testing or research on the subject.






reality-check volcanoes







share|improve this question











$endgroup$








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Many volcanoes are naturally plugged. It may only get worse.
    $endgroup$
    – Alexander
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    It looks like you almost answered it already ;-)
    $endgroup$
    – NofP
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    You seem to have answered your own question. Pressure will increase until something ruptures, whether that be the plug, or the flank of the volcano. At some point, it WILL explode.
    $endgroup$
    – Arkenstein XII
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    And for the record, yours is nowhere near the silliest question this site has seen. Heck, it might not even rank.
    $endgroup$
    – JBH
    3 hours ago








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Perhaps instead of the "plug it" solution which is combatting a symptom, could someone answer if you could relieve the pressure? Perhaps a large-scale pumping effort? For stakes lets say its a supervulcano near large population centers and you have to get it quiet.
    $endgroup$
    – Demigan
    3 hours ago














1












1








1





$begingroup$


I've seen in multiple forms of fiction the sort of joking notion of stopping a volcano from erupting by just... plugging up the top with something? Like, a large and sufficiently heavy rock?



While the idea is obviously silly and extremely impractical, the prevalence of this trope got me thinking: is it actually impossible?



If you were to somehow fill in or "plug" the main crater of an active volcano, either with a single large object or maybe by filling it in with dirt or concrete or something, would that actually temporarily repress the eruption? Or would the pressure just blast the obstruction out again, or open a new vent out the side, or do something like Mt. Saint Helens did and blow out the whole side of the mountain? Just a fun thought, I know it probably wouldn't work but I'd wondered if anyone had actually done any sort of testing or research on the subject.






reality-check volcanoes







share|improve this question











$endgroup$




I've seen in multiple forms of fiction the sort of joking notion of stopping a volcano from erupting by just... plugging up the top with something? Like, a large and sufficiently heavy rock?



While the idea is obviously silly and extremely impractical, the prevalence of this trope got me thinking: is it actually impossible?



If you were to somehow fill in or "plug" the main crater of an active volcano, either with a single large object or maybe by filling it in with dirt or concrete or something, would that actually temporarily repress the eruption? Or would the pressure just blast the obstruction out again, or open a new vent out the side, or do something like Mt. Saint Helens did and blow out the whole side of the mountain? Just a fun thought, I know it probably wouldn't work but I'd wondered if anyone had actually done any sort of testing or research on the subject.






reality-check volcanoes




reality-check volcanoes






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 27 mins ago









L.Dutch♦

81.3k26195398




81.3k26195398










asked 4 hours ago









BonnetBeeBonnetBee

38714




38714








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Many volcanoes are naturally plugged. It may only get worse.
    $endgroup$
    – Alexander
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    It looks like you almost answered it already ;-)
    $endgroup$
    – NofP
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    You seem to have answered your own question. Pressure will increase until something ruptures, whether that be the plug, or the flank of the volcano. At some point, it WILL explode.
    $endgroup$
    – Arkenstein XII
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    And for the record, yours is nowhere near the silliest question this site has seen. Heck, it might not even rank.
    $endgroup$
    – JBH
    3 hours ago








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Perhaps instead of the "plug it" solution which is combatting a symptom, could someone answer if you could relieve the pressure? Perhaps a large-scale pumping effort? For stakes lets say its a supervulcano near large population centers and you have to get it quiet.
    $endgroup$
    – Demigan
    3 hours ago














  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Many volcanoes are naturally plugged. It may only get worse.
    $endgroup$
    – Alexander
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    It looks like you almost answered it already ;-)
    $endgroup$
    – NofP
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    You seem to have answered your own question. Pressure will increase until something ruptures, whether that be the plug, or the flank of the volcano. At some point, it WILL explode.
    $endgroup$
    – Arkenstein XII
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    And for the record, yours is nowhere near the silliest question this site has seen. Heck, it might not even rank.
    $endgroup$
    – JBH
    3 hours ago








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Perhaps instead of the "plug it" solution which is combatting a symptom, could someone answer if you could relieve the pressure? Perhaps a large-scale pumping effort? For stakes lets say its a supervulcano near large population centers and you have to get it quiet.
    $endgroup$
    – Demigan
    3 hours ago








1




1




$begingroup$
Many volcanoes are naturally plugged. It may only get worse.
$endgroup$
– Alexander
4 hours ago




$begingroup$
Many volcanoes are naturally plugged. It may only get worse.
$endgroup$
– Alexander
4 hours ago




1




1




$begingroup$
It looks like you almost answered it already ;-)
$endgroup$
– NofP
4 hours ago




$begingroup$
It looks like you almost answered it already ;-)
$endgroup$
– NofP
4 hours ago




1




1




$begingroup$
You seem to have answered your own question. Pressure will increase until something ruptures, whether that be the plug, or the flank of the volcano. At some point, it WILL explode.
$endgroup$
– Arkenstein XII
4 hours ago




$begingroup$
You seem to have answered your own question. Pressure will increase until something ruptures, whether that be the plug, or the flank of the volcano. At some point, it WILL explode.
$endgroup$
– Arkenstein XII
4 hours ago




1




1




$begingroup$
And for the record, yours is nowhere near the silliest question this site has seen. Heck, it might not even rank.
$endgroup$
– JBH
3 hours ago






$begingroup$
And for the record, yours is nowhere near the silliest question this site has seen. Heck, it might not even rank.
$endgroup$
– JBH
3 hours ago






1




1




$begingroup$
Perhaps instead of the "plug it" solution which is combatting a symptom, could someone answer if you could relieve the pressure? Perhaps a large-scale pumping effort? For stakes lets say its a supervulcano near large population centers and you have to get it quiet.
$endgroup$
– Demigan
3 hours ago




$begingroup$
Perhaps instead of the "plug it" solution which is combatting a symptom, could someone answer if you could relieve the pressure? Perhaps a large-scale pumping effort? For stakes lets say its a supervulcano near large population centers and you have to get it quiet.
$endgroup$
– Demigan
3 hours ago










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















4












$begingroup$

Yes... and no...



A volcano explodes (very simplistically, this is the problem) with a force. Apply the equation F=mA. We know the force of the volcanic explosion, we know the acceleration of Earth's gravity. Voilà! We know the mass of the rock we need to plug the eruption.



Sounds simple, doesn't it...



Outrageously ignoring the fact that volcanic eruptions occur for a number of reasons, we'll simplify the discussion to assume Mt. St. Helens is indicative of the complexities of the problem. And we can sum up a lot of that complication with one word...



Earthquakes



The eruption of Mt. St. Helens was preceded by a number of earthquakes of various sizes, ranging from itty-bitty to magnitude 5.1. Earthquakes have the nasty habit of softening up and shifting around rocks, faults, vents, and everything else associated with volcanism.



But the fact of earthquakes isn't all, where they take place is also a problem. Some are deep in the earth, others are shallow. Some are miles away, some are right under the honking volcano. And they all add up.



And we're not done



Just to make things ugly (remember, I'm already simplifying by ignoring types of volcanism), you have the geological makeup of the surrounding area. Do you have a really tall mountain with thin walls? Or a really low one with thick walls? Do you have a big throat or a small one? Is the Earth desperate to pop this proverbial zit? Or is it just trying to clear a little mucus?



Conclusion



Not to put too fine a point on it, but you're trying to fix the Earth's "grumbly tummy" by putting a billiard ball in it's mouth. The billiard ball is certainly more mass than whatever might come out of the stomach,1 but if you tried it yourself, you'd likely be surprised to discover that it didn't stop much — in fact, it usually makes it a lot worse.



So, yes, for some (few) eruptions dropping a big ol' rock on top will stop it. For the rest... you'd better have evacuated the area, first.



But it'd sure look cool, wouldn't it? Kinda like when they tried to get rid of the beached whale by blowing it up.



Oh, and just a reminder, musket rifles use the same basic premise of putting a billiard ball atop a grumbly tummy. And what goes up....




1 In my metaphor. It's my metaphor, after all.






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    Yeah, seemed unlikely to be a long-term solution XD
    $endgroup$
    – BonnetBee
    3 hours ago



















3












$begingroup$

Every volcano that isn't actively erupting is actually just like this



All volcanoes that are not erupting are currently plugged up by something. Usually it's rock or cooled magma. The better the volcano is plugged the more pressure and heat it will need to erupt. It's also possible for it to never erupt, but then you might say that it really isn't a volcano anymore, because, after all, if you dig deep enough anywhere on the earth you can get down to molten rock, and then you have a volcano. The volcano under your house is very well plugged right now (please don't start digging).






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    The sentiment here is pretty much correct. However, I'd live to point out that the idea that "if you dig deep enough anywhere on the earth you can get down to molten rock" is a misconception. Unless you live in a volcanic zone, it is likely that there's nothing but solids beneath your feet all the way down to the core-mantle boundary.
    $endgroup$
    – Arkenstein XII
    4 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    At which point you reach the earth's mantle which is essentially molten rock.
    $endgroup$
    – Mathaddict
    4 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Nope! The Earth's Mantle is solid. Mainly composed of the mineral forsterite, and various kinds of pyroxenes.
    $endgroup$
    – Arkenstein XII
    4 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Mathaddict that is not correct. The mantle is mostly solid, with very small spots where melting occurs (which happen to below volcanoes)
    $endgroup$
    – Gimelist
    1 hour ago










  • $begingroup$
    Also, this answer is incorrect. Volcanoes that are not erupting are not erupting mostly because there is no new influx of magma, or fluids have not been saturated, etc. The overpressure of a "plug" is usually insignificant for determining whether it is important or not.
    $endgroup$
    – Gimelist
    1 hour ago



















0












$begingroup$

No



You cannot plug a volcano.



Volcanoes erupt because:




  1. The magma is very fluid, and there is a new influx of magma coming from the mantle. This magma is very efficient in carving a way through solid rock at extreme pressures. When it gets close to the surface it will just make make new dykes and sills to flow through. These type of magmas will be very fluid, something like Hawaiian magmas. Your attempt to plug it would be like putting a piece of paper in front of a bulldozer.

  2. The magma reached gas saturation, and it is rapidly nucleating bubbles of gas (mostly H2O), and it's going to explode. Your plug might only make it worse, because you're blocking the escape path of the gas, allowing overpressure to build up. Plugging it only delays the inevitable. Again, it's like putting a small piece of paper on top of a mentos-coke combination, hoping that it will stop it exploding. It will not.






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    3 Answers
    3






    active

    oldest

    votes








    3 Answers
    3






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    4












    $begingroup$

    Yes... and no...



    A volcano explodes (very simplistically, this is the problem) with a force. Apply the equation F=mA. We know the force of the volcanic explosion, we know the acceleration of Earth's gravity. Voilà! We know the mass of the rock we need to plug the eruption.



    Sounds simple, doesn't it...



    Outrageously ignoring the fact that volcanic eruptions occur for a number of reasons, we'll simplify the discussion to assume Mt. St. Helens is indicative of the complexities of the problem. And we can sum up a lot of that complication with one word...



    Earthquakes



    The eruption of Mt. St. Helens was preceded by a number of earthquakes of various sizes, ranging from itty-bitty to magnitude 5.1. Earthquakes have the nasty habit of softening up and shifting around rocks, faults, vents, and everything else associated with volcanism.



    But the fact of earthquakes isn't all, where they take place is also a problem. Some are deep in the earth, others are shallow. Some are miles away, some are right under the honking volcano. And they all add up.



    And we're not done



    Just to make things ugly (remember, I'm already simplifying by ignoring types of volcanism), you have the geological makeup of the surrounding area. Do you have a really tall mountain with thin walls? Or a really low one with thick walls? Do you have a big throat or a small one? Is the Earth desperate to pop this proverbial zit? Or is it just trying to clear a little mucus?



    Conclusion



    Not to put too fine a point on it, but you're trying to fix the Earth's "grumbly tummy" by putting a billiard ball in it's mouth. The billiard ball is certainly more mass than whatever might come out of the stomach,1 but if you tried it yourself, you'd likely be surprised to discover that it didn't stop much — in fact, it usually makes it a lot worse.



    So, yes, for some (few) eruptions dropping a big ol' rock on top will stop it. For the rest... you'd better have evacuated the area, first.



    But it'd sure look cool, wouldn't it? Kinda like when they tried to get rid of the beached whale by blowing it up.



    Oh, and just a reminder, musket rifles use the same basic premise of putting a billiard ball atop a grumbly tummy. And what goes up....




    1 In my metaphor. It's my metaphor, after all.






    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$













    • $begingroup$
      Yeah, seemed unlikely to be a long-term solution XD
      $endgroup$
      – BonnetBee
      3 hours ago
















    4












    $begingroup$

    Yes... and no...



    A volcano explodes (very simplistically, this is the problem) with a force. Apply the equation F=mA. We know the force of the volcanic explosion, we know the acceleration of Earth's gravity. Voilà! We know the mass of the rock we need to plug the eruption.



    Sounds simple, doesn't it...



    Outrageously ignoring the fact that volcanic eruptions occur for a number of reasons, we'll simplify the discussion to assume Mt. St. Helens is indicative of the complexities of the problem. And we can sum up a lot of that complication with one word...



    Earthquakes



    The eruption of Mt. St. Helens was preceded by a number of earthquakes of various sizes, ranging from itty-bitty to magnitude 5.1. Earthquakes have the nasty habit of softening up and shifting around rocks, faults, vents, and everything else associated with volcanism.



    But the fact of earthquakes isn't all, where they take place is also a problem. Some are deep in the earth, others are shallow. Some are miles away, some are right under the honking volcano. And they all add up.



    And we're not done



    Just to make things ugly (remember, I'm already simplifying by ignoring types of volcanism), you have the geological makeup of the surrounding area. Do you have a really tall mountain with thin walls? Or a really low one with thick walls? Do you have a big throat or a small one? Is the Earth desperate to pop this proverbial zit? Or is it just trying to clear a little mucus?



    Conclusion



    Not to put too fine a point on it, but you're trying to fix the Earth's "grumbly tummy" by putting a billiard ball in it's mouth. The billiard ball is certainly more mass than whatever might come out of the stomach,1 but if you tried it yourself, you'd likely be surprised to discover that it didn't stop much — in fact, it usually makes it a lot worse.



    So, yes, for some (few) eruptions dropping a big ol' rock on top will stop it. For the rest... you'd better have evacuated the area, first.



    But it'd sure look cool, wouldn't it? Kinda like when they tried to get rid of the beached whale by blowing it up.



    Oh, and just a reminder, musket rifles use the same basic premise of putting a billiard ball atop a grumbly tummy. And what goes up....




    1 In my metaphor. It's my metaphor, after all.






    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$













    • $begingroup$
      Yeah, seemed unlikely to be a long-term solution XD
      $endgroup$
      – BonnetBee
      3 hours ago














    4












    4








    4





    $begingroup$

    Yes... and no...



    A volcano explodes (very simplistically, this is the problem) with a force. Apply the equation F=mA. We know the force of the volcanic explosion, we know the acceleration of Earth's gravity. Voilà! We know the mass of the rock we need to plug the eruption.



    Sounds simple, doesn't it...



    Outrageously ignoring the fact that volcanic eruptions occur for a number of reasons, we'll simplify the discussion to assume Mt. St. Helens is indicative of the complexities of the problem. And we can sum up a lot of that complication with one word...



    Earthquakes



    The eruption of Mt. St. Helens was preceded by a number of earthquakes of various sizes, ranging from itty-bitty to magnitude 5.1. Earthquakes have the nasty habit of softening up and shifting around rocks, faults, vents, and everything else associated with volcanism.



    But the fact of earthquakes isn't all, where they take place is also a problem. Some are deep in the earth, others are shallow. Some are miles away, some are right under the honking volcano. And they all add up.



    And we're not done



    Just to make things ugly (remember, I'm already simplifying by ignoring types of volcanism), you have the geological makeup of the surrounding area. Do you have a really tall mountain with thin walls? Or a really low one with thick walls? Do you have a big throat or a small one? Is the Earth desperate to pop this proverbial zit? Or is it just trying to clear a little mucus?



    Conclusion



    Not to put too fine a point on it, but you're trying to fix the Earth's "grumbly tummy" by putting a billiard ball in it's mouth. The billiard ball is certainly more mass than whatever might come out of the stomach,1 but if you tried it yourself, you'd likely be surprised to discover that it didn't stop much — in fact, it usually makes it a lot worse.



    So, yes, for some (few) eruptions dropping a big ol' rock on top will stop it. For the rest... you'd better have evacuated the area, first.



    But it'd sure look cool, wouldn't it? Kinda like when they tried to get rid of the beached whale by blowing it up.



    Oh, and just a reminder, musket rifles use the same basic premise of putting a billiard ball atop a grumbly tummy. And what goes up....




    1 In my metaphor. It's my metaphor, after all.






    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$



    Yes... and no...



    A volcano explodes (very simplistically, this is the problem) with a force. Apply the equation F=mA. We know the force of the volcanic explosion, we know the acceleration of Earth's gravity. Voilà! We know the mass of the rock we need to plug the eruption.



    Sounds simple, doesn't it...



    Outrageously ignoring the fact that volcanic eruptions occur for a number of reasons, we'll simplify the discussion to assume Mt. St. Helens is indicative of the complexities of the problem. And we can sum up a lot of that complication with one word...



    Earthquakes



    The eruption of Mt. St. Helens was preceded by a number of earthquakes of various sizes, ranging from itty-bitty to magnitude 5.1. Earthquakes have the nasty habit of softening up and shifting around rocks, faults, vents, and everything else associated with volcanism.



    But the fact of earthquakes isn't all, where they take place is also a problem. Some are deep in the earth, others are shallow. Some are miles away, some are right under the honking volcano. And they all add up.



    And we're not done



    Just to make things ugly (remember, I'm already simplifying by ignoring types of volcanism), you have the geological makeup of the surrounding area. Do you have a really tall mountain with thin walls? Or a really low one with thick walls? Do you have a big throat or a small one? Is the Earth desperate to pop this proverbial zit? Or is it just trying to clear a little mucus?



    Conclusion



    Not to put too fine a point on it, but you're trying to fix the Earth's "grumbly tummy" by putting a billiard ball in it's mouth. The billiard ball is certainly more mass than whatever might come out of the stomach,1 but if you tried it yourself, you'd likely be surprised to discover that it didn't stop much — in fact, it usually makes it a lot worse.



    So, yes, for some (few) eruptions dropping a big ol' rock on top will stop it. For the rest... you'd better have evacuated the area, first.



    But it'd sure look cool, wouldn't it? Kinda like when they tried to get rid of the beached whale by blowing it up.



    Oh, and just a reminder, musket rifles use the same basic premise of putting a billiard ball atop a grumbly tummy. And what goes up....




    1 In my metaphor. It's my metaphor, after all.







    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered 3 hours ago









    JBHJBH

    42.5k592204




    42.5k592204












    • $begingroup$
      Yeah, seemed unlikely to be a long-term solution XD
      $endgroup$
      – BonnetBee
      3 hours ago


















    • $begingroup$
      Yeah, seemed unlikely to be a long-term solution XD
      $endgroup$
      – BonnetBee
      3 hours ago
















    $begingroup$
    Yeah, seemed unlikely to be a long-term solution XD
    $endgroup$
    – BonnetBee
    3 hours ago




    $begingroup$
    Yeah, seemed unlikely to be a long-term solution XD
    $endgroup$
    – BonnetBee
    3 hours ago











    3












    $begingroup$

    Every volcano that isn't actively erupting is actually just like this



    All volcanoes that are not erupting are currently plugged up by something. Usually it's rock or cooled magma. The better the volcano is plugged the more pressure and heat it will need to erupt. It's also possible for it to never erupt, but then you might say that it really isn't a volcano anymore, because, after all, if you dig deep enough anywhere on the earth you can get down to molten rock, and then you have a volcano. The volcano under your house is very well plugged right now (please don't start digging).






    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$













    • $begingroup$
      The sentiment here is pretty much correct. However, I'd live to point out that the idea that "if you dig deep enough anywhere on the earth you can get down to molten rock" is a misconception. Unless you live in a volcanic zone, it is likely that there's nothing but solids beneath your feet all the way down to the core-mantle boundary.
      $endgroup$
      – Arkenstein XII
      4 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      At which point you reach the earth's mantle which is essentially molten rock.
      $endgroup$
      – Mathaddict
      4 hours ago






    • 2




      $begingroup$
      Nope! The Earth's Mantle is solid. Mainly composed of the mineral forsterite, and various kinds of pyroxenes.
      $endgroup$
      – Arkenstein XII
      4 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      @Mathaddict that is not correct. The mantle is mostly solid, with very small spots where melting occurs (which happen to below volcanoes)
      $endgroup$
      – Gimelist
      1 hour ago










    • $begingroup$
      Also, this answer is incorrect. Volcanoes that are not erupting are not erupting mostly because there is no new influx of magma, or fluids have not been saturated, etc. The overpressure of a "plug" is usually insignificant for determining whether it is important or not.
      $endgroup$
      – Gimelist
      1 hour ago
















    3












    $begingroup$

    Every volcano that isn't actively erupting is actually just like this



    All volcanoes that are not erupting are currently plugged up by something. Usually it's rock or cooled magma. The better the volcano is plugged the more pressure and heat it will need to erupt. It's also possible for it to never erupt, but then you might say that it really isn't a volcano anymore, because, after all, if you dig deep enough anywhere on the earth you can get down to molten rock, and then you have a volcano. The volcano under your house is very well plugged right now (please don't start digging).






    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$













    • $begingroup$
      The sentiment here is pretty much correct. However, I'd live to point out that the idea that "if you dig deep enough anywhere on the earth you can get down to molten rock" is a misconception. Unless you live in a volcanic zone, it is likely that there's nothing but solids beneath your feet all the way down to the core-mantle boundary.
      $endgroup$
      – Arkenstein XII
      4 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      At which point you reach the earth's mantle which is essentially molten rock.
      $endgroup$
      – Mathaddict
      4 hours ago






    • 2




      $begingroup$
      Nope! The Earth's Mantle is solid. Mainly composed of the mineral forsterite, and various kinds of pyroxenes.
      $endgroup$
      – Arkenstein XII
      4 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      @Mathaddict that is not correct. The mantle is mostly solid, with very small spots where melting occurs (which happen to below volcanoes)
      $endgroup$
      – Gimelist
      1 hour ago










    • $begingroup$
      Also, this answer is incorrect. Volcanoes that are not erupting are not erupting mostly because there is no new influx of magma, or fluids have not been saturated, etc. The overpressure of a "plug" is usually insignificant for determining whether it is important or not.
      $endgroup$
      – Gimelist
      1 hour ago














    3












    3








    3





    $begingroup$

    Every volcano that isn't actively erupting is actually just like this



    All volcanoes that are not erupting are currently plugged up by something. Usually it's rock or cooled magma. The better the volcano is plugged the more pressure and heat it will need to erupt. It's also possible for it to never erupt, but then you might say that it really isn't a volcano anymore, because, after all, if you dig deep enough anywhere on the earth you can get down to molten rock, and then you have a volcano. The volcano under your house is very well plugged right now (please don't start digging).






    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$



    Every volcano that isn't actively erupting is actually just like this



    All volcanoes that are not erupting are currently plugged up by something. Usually it's rock or cooled magma. The better the volcano is plugged the more pressure and heat it will need to erupt. It's also possible for it to never erupt, but then you might say that it really isn't a volcano anymore, because, after all, if you dig deep enough anywhere on the earth you can get down to molten rock, and then you have a volcano. The volcano under your house is very well plugged right now (please don't start digging).







    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered 4 hours ago









    MathaddictMathaddict

    3,422229




    3,422229












    • $begingroup$
      The sentiment here is pretty much correct. However, I'd live to point out that the idea that "if you dig deep enough anywhere on the earth you can get down to molten rock" is a misconception. Unless you live in a volcanic zone, it is likely that there's nothing but solids beneath your feet all the way down to the core-mantle boundary.
      $endgroup$
      – Arkenstein XII
      4 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      At which point you reach the earth's mantle which is essentially molten rock.
      $endgroup$
      – Mathaddict
      4 hours ago






    • 2




      $begingroup$
      Nope! The Earth's Mantle is solid. Mainly composed of the mineral forsterite, and various kinds of pyroxenes.
      $endgroup$
      – Arkenstein XII
      4 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      @Mathaddict that is not correct. The mantle is mostly solid, with very small spots where melting occurs (which happen to below volcanoes)
      $endgroup$
      – Gimelist
      1 hour ago










    • $begingroup$
      Also, this answer is incorrect. Volcanoes that are not erupting are not erupting mostly because there is no new influx of magma, or fluids have not been saturated, etc. The overpressure of a "plug" is usually insignificant for determining whether it is important or not.
      $endgroup$
      – Gimelist
      1 hour ago


















    • $begingroup$
      The sentiment here is pretty much correct. However, I'd live to point out that the idea that "if you dig deep enough anywhere on the earth you can get down to molten rock" is a misconception. Unless you live in a volcanic zone, it is likely that there's nothing but solids beneath your feet all the way down to the core-mantle boundary.
      $endgroup$
      – Arkenstein XII
      4 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      At which point you reach the earth's mantle which is essentially molten rock.
      $endgroup$
      – Mathaddict
      4 hours ago






    • 2




      $begingroup$
      Nope! The Earth's Mantle is solid. Mainly composed of the mineral forsterite, and various kinds of pyroxenes.
      $endgroup$
      – Arkenstein XII
      4 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      @Mathaddict that is not correct. The mantle is mostly solid, with very small spots where melting occurs (which happen to below volcanoes)
      $endgroup$
      – Gimelist
      1 hour ago










    • $begingroup$
      Also, this answer is incorrect. Volcanoes that are not erupting are not erupting mostly because there is no new influx of magma, or fluids have not been saturated, etc. The overpressure of a "plug" is usually insignificant for determining whether it is important or not.
      $endgroup$
      – Gimelist
      1 hour ago
















    $begingroup$
    The sentiment here is pretty much correct. However, I'd live to point out that the idea that "if you dig deep enough anywhere on the earth you can get down to molten rock" is a misconception. Unless you live in a volcanic zone, it is likely that there's nothing but solids beneath your feet all the way down to the core-mantle boundary.
    $endgroup$
    – Arkenstein XII
    4 hours ago




    $begingroup$
    The sentiment here is pretty much correct. However, I'd live to point out that the idea that "if you dig deep enough anywhere on the earth you can get down to molten rock" is a misconception. Unless you live in a volcanic zone, it is likely that there's nothing but solids beneath your feet all the way down to the core-mantle boundary.
    $endgroup$
    – Arkenstein XII
    4 hours ago












    $begingroup$
    At which point you reach the earth's mantle which is essentially molten rock.
    $endgroup$
    – Mathaddict
    4 hours ago




    $begingroup$
    At which point you reach the earth's mantle which is essentially molten rock.
    $endgroup$
    – Mathaddict
    4 hours ago




    2




    2




    $begingroup$
    Nope! The Earth's Mantle is solid. Mainly composed of the mineral forsterite, and various kinds of pyroxenes.
    $endgroup$
    – Arkenstein XII
    4 hours ago




    $begingroup$
    Nope! The Earth's Mantle is solid. Mainly composed of the mineral forsterite, and various kinds of pyroxenes.
    $endgroup$
    – Arkenstein XII
    4 hours ago












    $begingroup$
    @Mathaddict that is not correct. The mantle is mostly solid, with very small spots where melting occurs (which happen to below volcanoes)
    $endgroup$
    – Gimelist
    1 hour ago




    $begingroup$
    @Mathaddict that is not correct. The mantle is mostly solid, with very small spots where melting occurs (which happen to below volcanoes)
    $endgroup$
    – Gimelist
    1 hour ago












    $begingroup$
    Also, this answer is incorrect. Volcanoes that are not erupting are not erupting mostly because there is no new influx of magma, or fluids have not been saturated, etc. The overpressure of a "plug" is usually insignificant for determining whether it is important or not.
    $endgroup$
    – Gimelist
    1 hour ago




    $begingroup$
    Also, this answer is incorrect. Volcanoes that are not erupting are not erupting mostly because there is no new influx of magma, or fluids have not been saturated, etc. The overpressure of a "plug" is usually insignificant for determining whether it is important or not.
    $endgroup$
    – Gimelist
    1 hour ago











    0












    $begingroup$

    No



    You cannot plug a volcano.



    Volcanoes erupt because:




    1. The magma is very fluid, and there is a new influx of magma coming from the mantle. This magma is very efficient in carving a way through solid rock at extreme pressures. When it gets close to the surface it will just make make new dykes and sills to flow through. These type of magmas will be very fluid, something like Hawaiian magmas. Your attempt to plug it would be like putting a piece of paper in front of a bulldozer.

    2. The magma reached gas saturation, and it is rapidly nucleating bubbles of gas (mostly H2O), and it's going to explode. Your plug might only make it worse, because you're blocking the escape path of the gas, allowing overpressure to build up. Plugging it only delays the inevitable. Again, it's like putting a small piece of paper on top of a mentos-coke combination, hoping that it will stop it exploding. It will not.






    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$


















      0












      $begingroup$

      No



      You cannot plug a volcano.



      Volcanoes erupt because:




      1. The magma is very fluid, and there is a new influx of magma coming from the mantle. This magma is very efficient in carving a way through solid rock at extreme pressures. When it gets close to the surface it will just make make new dykes and sills to flow through. These type of magmas will be very fluid, something like Hawaiian magmas. Your attempt to plug it would be like putting a piece of paper in front of a bulldozer.

      2. The magma reached gas saturation, and it is rapidly nucleating bubbles of gas (mostly H2O), and it's going to explode. Your plug might only make it worse, because you're blocking the escape path of the gas, allowing overpressure to build up. Plugging it only delays the inevitable. Again, it's like putting a small piece of paper on top of a mentos-coke combination, hoping that it will stop it exploding. It will not.






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$
















        0












        0








        0





        $begingroup$

        No



        You cannot plug a volcano.



        Volcanoes erupt because:




        1. The magma is very fluid, and there is a new influx of magma coming from the mantle. This magma is very efficient in carving a way through solid rock at extreme pressures. When it gets close to the surface it will just make make new dykes and sills to flow through. These type of magmas will be very fluid, something like Hawaiian magmas. Your attempt to plug it would be like putting a piece of paper in front of a bulldozer.

        2. The magma reached gas saturation, and it is rapidly nucleating bubbles of gas (mostly H2O), and it's going to explode. Your plug might only make it worse, because you're blocking the escape path of the gas, allowing overpressure to build up. Plugging it only delays the inevitable. Again, it's like putting a small piece of paper on top of a mentos-coke combination, hoping that it will stop it exploding. It will not.






        share|improve this answer









        $endgroup$



        No



        You cannot plug a volcano.



        Volcanoes erupt because:




        1. The magma is very fluid, and there is a new influx of magma coming from the mantle. This magma is very efficient in carving a way through solid rock at extreme pressures. When it gets close to the surface it will just make make new dykes and sills to flow through. These type of magmas will be very fluid, something like Hawaiian magmas. Your attempt to plug it would be like putting a piece of paper in front of a bulldozer.

        2. The magma reached gas saturation, and it is rapidly nucleating bubbles of gas (mostly H2O), and it's going to explode. Your plug might only make it worse, because you're blocking the escape path of the gas, allowing overpressure to build up. Plugging it only delays the inevitable. Again, it's like putting a small piece of paper on top of a mentos-coke combination, hoping that it will stop it exploding. It will not.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 1 hour ago









        GimelistGimelist

        2,038411




        2,038411






























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