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OpenPlex t1_j9zao8u wrote

Reply to comment by CrustalTrudger in When a volcano erupts, does this affect the pressure building up in other volcanoes? by Rhamni

> At a simple level, any given volcano represents an isolated system, i.e., surface vents connected to a magma chamber within the crust, e.g., this diagram, while for a specific volcanic system is a decent generic representation to consider.

Why does the magma in that image travel up as lone tendrils? What's the physics of that?

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the_muskox t1_j9zem6q wrote

The magma is exploiting fractures and other weaknesses in the overlying rock to ascend. That's much easier and faster than just melting its way through several km of rock.

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CrustalTrudger t1_j9zfwyg wrote

Yep, and in some cases the pressure building from the magma itself and gases is sufficient to push the overlying rocks into a stress regime that's right for tensile failure, so it's not just exploiting existing fractures, but sometimes also making new fractures.

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