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Hyperion volcano2/11/2024 ![]() ![]() Volcanism is the eruption of molten rock (magma) onto the surface of a planet. It was modified over time through chemical reactions with rocks and photosynthesizing organisms. (This outgassing continues today.) Most of the gas was carbon dioxide and water vapor. Volcanic eruptions on early Earth spewed gases from the interior. But eruptions also have a role in creation in addition to new land, volcanic activity helps to create a planet's atmosphere. Volcanoes can impact the entire Earth's climate: the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1991 caused a global cooling of one degree over the next year. ![]() Numerous examples exist in history where thousands of people died as clouds of ash, lava, and mud flows buried villages and cities. Eruptions can disrupt air traffic, as we experienced in the 2010 Iceland eruptions. Volcanoes can have a profound effect on people. Startling results from Venus Express and MESSENGER's mission to Mercury are redefining our understanding of planetary history: instruments aboard Venus Express suggest recently active volcanoes and MESSENGER shows widespread lava flows occurring long after Mercury formed. The very presence of volcanic features tells scientists that a planet's interior is -or was - hot enough to form magma that erupted at its surface. The type of volcanism and the composition of the lava give scientists a peak underneath the crust. Volcanic activity acts as a window to a planet's interior. Volcanologists on Earth have applied their knowledge to these other places in our solar system.
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