Volcano Question

[Harry79]

I'm going to sound really dim but can't you stop a volcano with water? Isn't it like a (very big!) fire under ground? Is it possible to stop one in mid-flow?

[another-view]

That would be like trying to mop up the sea with a towel.

[karenmac60]

I think the heat from the volcano would vaporize the water before it was able to get anywhere near it.

[ChuckFickens]

nope

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1tjIihHgco

[rowanwitch]

There is a theory that some volcanoes are triggered by water its to do with sudden increases in steam pressure.... Apparently volcanoes near the coast become more active with rises in sea level.

[BBBE99]

lol at another-view

Harry actually asked a very honest question...

[spudqueen]

Certainly not - it was sea water getting in that caused the huge Krakatoa explosion. See here:
http://www.drgeorgepc...cano1883Krakatoa.html
and read especially this bit:

A Phreatomagmatic Event

Krakatoa's paroxysmal explosion was "phreatomagmatic" . Ocean water entered the magmatic chambers of the volcano when its walls begun to rupture. Super heated steam built tremendous pressure which, in turn, resulted in the large explosion of the volcano. The violent explosion of released gases blasted huge quantities of ash, cinders, pumice, bombs, and larger blocks skyward. The explosion was followed by the collapse of the volcanic remnants into the empty magmatic chambers, thus forming a submerged caldera.

[askyourgran]

Amazing, Krakatoa must have been really something to see (from a great distance).