Volcanology / Вулканология

The science of volcanology is the study of the transport of magma and its eruption on the surface. It is thus closely allied to the science of petrology, which is the study of the generation of magmatic liquid during melting and its modification and eventual disappearance during crystallization or quenching. The terrestrial planets are generally composed of a thin outer  crust; a solid mantle, which typically forms the dominant mass of the planet; and a dense iron-rich core, which may be liquid as in the case of the earth. Owing to a variety of chemical and physical processes, localized melting may occur in the outer mantle or lower part of the crust, leading to formation of molten rock or magma. Volcanism is the dominant process of transfer of matter from planetary interiors to the surface and thus plays a crucial role in geochemical cycles and the origin and evolution of continents, oceanic crust, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. Volcanic activity has both a beneficial and a harmful impact on human ecology. Soils in volcanic regions are unusually fertile because of their open texture and high solubility of nutrientforming elements. Other direct benefits of the ascent of magmas into the planetary crust are hot springs and other geothermal reservoirs that can form important energy resources. Because of their high heat flux and well-developed hydrothermal circulating systems, the root zones of volcanoes are regions of mineralization and often the sites of economic deposits of certain ores. The best-known aspect of volcanic activity is, however, the hazard related to volcanic eruptions, when the sudden or explosive release of heat and energy can have devastating effects and lead to large loss of life and property in regions close to the erupting volcano. Due to the emission of aerosol-forming volcanic gases, which lead to screening of the earth from solar radiation, volcanic activity can have a significant impact on the earth’s climate over a period of months or years following very large eruptions. <...>