How accurate are your predictions? Which volcanic eruption killed the most people? How hot is lava? These questions are from 8th grade students. Please respond to the e-mail address of their teacher. Thanks.

John Steele

Dear teacher and students,

Volcanologist are getting better at predicting the behavior of volcanoes. They are the most accurate when more information is known about a volcano. For example, composition, type, distribution, and volume of previous eruptions. It is also best if the volcano is well monitored by several types of instruments. If a dormant volcano that has not been studied in details reawakens it will be more difficult to predict its behavior.

We have a List of Deadly Volcanoes in Learning about Volcanoes.

Hawaiian lavas are probably around 1170 to 1175 degrees centigrade. That converts to about 2140 degrees. The lava at other volcanoes, especially strato-volcanoes like Mount St. Helens, is a good deal cooler, perhaps 100-200 centigrade degrees cooler. That is the main reason why it is so viscous compared to the Hawaiian lavas that are so fluid.

Steve Mattox, University of North Dakota Scott Rowland, University of Hawaii

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