Volcanic eruptions are a magnificent natural spectacle, and many people are curious to watch them, but they also worry about the danger of volcanic eruptions. Can we watch them up close? It depends on the form and scale of the volcanic eruption. Typically, volcanic eruptions mainly include central-type, fissure-type, and a combination of these two forms. The central-type is when magma rises and erupts through a channel, forming a circular or nearly circular volcanic crater or volcanic cone; while the fissure-type is when magma erupts or overflows through a fault or fissure, forming a ribbon-shaped or sheet-like lava flow. In actual observations, people often name the eruption types after some typical volcanic eruptions on Earth. For example, the Plinian-type volcanic eruption represents an extremely violent volcanic eruption. In 79 AD, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Italy was a representative of this type. Due to the large amount of harmful gases emitted during that eruption, the volcanologist Pliny was poisoned and died while observing it on site. To commemorate this pioneer of volcanic research, this type of volcanic eruption was named after Pliny. The eruptions of Mount St. Helens in the United States in 1980 and Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1991 also belonged to the Plinian type. Such volcanic eruptions are extremely deadly.
Most volcanic eruptions in Hawaii are basaltic magma eruptions. This type of magma has a low silica content, so its viscosity is low and the magma is highly fluid. It mainly erupts in the central-type or fissure-type, forming low-altitude, small-scale shield-shaped volcanic cones and lava terraces, which is a very common type of volcanic activity. The eruptions of Hawaiian-type volcanoes are not very powerful and are not very dangerous. Therefore, whenever a volcanic eruption occurs, people often rush to the scene to watch it.
Watching a volcanic eruption is like watching fireworks, and it's best to do it at night. Under the night sky, the huge fireball or fire column formed by the central-type eruption turns half the sky red, and the sparks it sprays around are more spectacular than the fireworks of a festival; while the fissure-type eruption is like a series of fire snakes and fire dragons, winding and dancing. The most breathtaking is the scorching molten lava, surging forward and breaking through pieces of the night sky, forming an ocean of fire. The surface of the magma will quickly solidify, forming various shapes such as waves, ropes, saucers, and chrysanthemums, which are of great ornamental value. Therefore, volcanic eruptions are also a live performance by nature's sculptor.
After the molten lava solidifies, people can go to the lava terrace, but they need to be particularly careful, because the just-solidified lava is still very hot and requires wearing thick-soled heat-resistant shoes; some lava may be hard on the surface but not yet solidified underneath, and if the hard shell is too thin, people may fall into the lava; sometimes, after the lava underneath the hard shell has flowed away, leaving a void, people may also fall in. During a volcanic eruption, a large amount of toxic gases such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide are emitted, which can make people choke and gasp for breath. Therefore, it's best to wear a gas mask when watching it on site.