When a volcano erupts on the floor of the ocean, does the heat from the lava make the surrounding water boil, or does the coolness of the water cool off the lava right away and turn it into rock?

Hello! When a volcano erupts on the floor of the ocean, does the heat from the lava make the surrounding water boil, or does the coolness of the water cool off the lava right away and turn it into rock? Thanks! Chad, Jeremy, Cheyne & Dawson

Chad, Jeremy, Cheyne, & Dawson

Dear Chad, Jeremy, Cheyne, & Dawson,

Volcanoes on the floor of the ocean are under thousands of feet of water. This "pile" of water causes high pressure which changes the boiling point of water. The temperature of the lava is not high enough to overcome the added pressure so the water does not boil.

The water is much colder than the lava and the heat is transferred from the lava to the water. The hot water rises and is replaced by more cold water. This does cool the crust of the lava right away. The interior will stay molten and the lava will break through the crust to keep flowing. This will continue until the eruption stops.

Steve Mattox, University of North Dakota


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Hello! When a volcano erupts on the floor of the ocean, does the heat from the lava make the surrounding water boil, or does the coolness of the water cool off the lava right away and turn it into rock? Thanks! Chad, Jeremy, Cheyne & Dawson

Other Categories Other Questions To VolcanoWorld

Other Categories Other Questions
To VolcanoWorld