Vulcano eruption vs Earthquakes. What fascinates you more and why?

Question

Lliam · Accepted Answer

Growing up and spending over half my life in southern California, I experienced lots of earthquakes. Most of them were fairly mild and, fortunately, during any larger ones I wasn't in danger of falling debris, landslides or collapsing bridges when they struck.
Aside from the shaking and resulting damage, earthquakes, there isn't much to see. It all happens underground. But if you study geology and tectonic plates and fault lines, the science of earthquakes can be fascinating.

Volcanoes, however, are dramatic and infinitely more fascinating.

There are different kinds:

Cinder Cones: The simplest and most common type, built from blobs of congealed lava ejected from a single vent. They are small, steep-sided, and typically have a bowl-shaped crater at the summit.

Composite Volcanoes (Stratovolcanoes): Tall, symmetrical, and steep-sided mountains constructed of alternating layers of hardened lava, ash, and rocks. They are responsible for some of the most violent and explosive eruptions on Earth.

Shield Volcanoes: Broad, gently sloping mountains that resemble a warrior's shield lying on the ground. Formed by highly fluid, basaltic lava, they are characterized by steady, non-explosive eruptions.

Lava Domes: Compact, steep-sided mounds formed when highly viscous (sticky) lava is squeezed out of a vent but cannot flow very far. They often grow within the craters or on the flanks of larger composite volcanoes.

Some are explosive and devastating. Gas clouds can go miles into the air. Some have even blocked the sun, caused global cooling and famine.
Rocks can be thrown long distances.
If a volcano is covered with snow, the eruption can cause devastating flows of mud and debris called lahars.
A pyroclastic flow is a fast-moving, ground-hugging avalanche of hot gas, ash, and volcanic rock fragments. Reaching speeds over 400 mph and temperatures up to 1,800°f. They are the deadliest and most destructive of all volcanic hazards.

The causes of volcanoes are fascinating, too.
Some are created by hot spots in the oceanic crust (Hawaiian Islands) or by two oceanic plates colliding with one subducting beneath the other (The Japanese Archipelago, the Aleutian Islands, and the Philippines).

Where two tectonic plates are diverging (pulling apart from each other), a massive rift forms on the ocean floor. Magma rises to fill the gap, cooling to create new crust and underwater mountain ranges. In highly active zones, these volcanic ridges build up high enough to poke out of the water. (Iceland sits directly on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge).

On continents, subducting oceanic crust typically creates volcanoes about 60 to 120 miles (100 to 200 kilometers) inland from the offshore trench where the subduction begins.
This distance is determined by the depth of the sinking plate rather than a strict horizontal measurement. Volcanoes erupt above the subducting slab when it reaches a depth of about 60 miles. At this depth, extreme pressure and temperature cause the crust to release trapped water, which lowers the melting point of the mantle rock above it and creates magma. There are lots in western north America.

abc3643 · Accepted Answer

Well, I gotta tell you...

I experienced the MLK Day 1994 Northridge Earthquake when I was living in Hermosa Beach California. It was about 4:30 AM. I was in bed and, I gotta tell you, there was a primal fear with that as things are falling down all around me. I was wigged out for a long time whenever I heard squeaking sounds like the kinds I heard during the earthquake.

Then, 21 years ago at this time, I visited Mount Saint Helens while it was undergoing an eruption. The park ranger said the volcano was creating about a tractor trailer amount of new rock every minute or so while creating the "Whaleback". This was less than 3 months since it's eruption in March 2005 - the first significant eruption since the initial one 46 years ago today: 18 MAY 1980.

I got a BS in Physics 41 years ago yesterday so I knew quite a bit about the science of both events. The earthquake was more frightening as it happened and that affected me for some time. But, while I was watching the volcanos eruption from the Johnson Observatory Center, I was somewhat edgy because, if I had been where I was standing but it was 18 MAY 1980, I'd have been vaporized by 700+ mile/hour superheated gases coming from the eruption. It sort of like being at the zoo in front of the tigers who are looking at you and you realize their enclosure isn't completely closed. Still, I didn't want to leave, but I had to. I knew I would never return.

Both events had a profound impact on me.

Calyptomaniac · Accepted Answer

I was REALLY little but I remember some funky looking sunsets when I was in kindergarten and my grandpa was telling me how it was from a volcano halfway across the world. I forgot at the time, but it was Mt. Pinatubo. Hawaii had some old lava flows you could walk around on that were fun too. I don't see much fascinating about earthquakes.

beenherebefore · Accepted Answer

A volcano eruption is an absolute show. Scarry and fascinating at the same time. I never experienced a proper earthquake only short tremors here and there and although it did not scare I think I would freak out if my house suddenly started shaking uncontrollably.

OneViewpoint · Answer

Same thing really. Plate tectonics at work moving the stuff under our feet around on a grand scale. Sometimes that manifest as shockwaves through solid rock. Other times it manifests as a pressure relief for liquid magma near the surface.

I've never seen an active volcano erupting up close, only on video. But I've been through several earthquakes all over the world. Danger aside, it's sorta fun. The powerful low frequency pressure waves and the ground movement are really disorienting for a human brain. Your eyes and brain don't process what's happening initially. It's like you're in a dream or hallucinating. Because the entire Earth can't be moving, right? You're not really floating, right? It's bizarre.

Telekinetic-Potato · Answer

Earthquakes. Sometimes, my house would start swaying late at night and everyone tried to make me feel crazy for thinking we had a minor earthquake and one day this display case I had fell off my TV while I was feeling the house sway so I started keeping up with sizemic data I found on the internet even though I had no idea what I was looking at.

NathanDavis · Answer

visually speaking... an eruption would be so much more of an experience

given that you're at a safer distance... it could be like the best movie ever, lol

but "scientifically" speaking... earthquakes are much more intriguing, to me

LaFemmeFatale_1 · Answer

They both scare me. But probably Volcano Eruption fascinates me a little more, we don’t have volcanoes in Georgia, earthquakes though, have taken lives of lots of people and families.

Lesbologist · Answer

You know Americans like eruptions.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

I can't say that I seek either of both 😄
Anyhow... as I live in the tropics, heat is common to me.
So... if the Earth was shaking, it would be an additional thrill
https://m. youtube. com/watch? v=Lo2qQmj0_h4

saw_Santo_Niño_Jesus · Answer

I have never witness a volcanic eruption but I definitely experienced earthquake. I am scared of earthquake. But I don't think I will like volcano eruption because I am also scared of fire. One time I was watching a movie and I overheard someone saying something about fire I didn't investigate I immediately run. I am one of the first people who made it outside the cinema. This happened many years ago. I am way stronger now.

Friendlybro79 · Answer

Volcano... San Marzano tomatoes are expensive here in the states. We need more supply. Lol

Zack-Bann · Answer

Volcano makes for s majestic sight even if it can be very dangerous  Earthquakes are invisible, just death and destruction out if nowhere

lilBigPotato · Answer

Volcano definitely delivers the more fascinating images.

Agape93 · Answer

Volcano. Gets my blood pumping more than shaking does.

exitseven · Answer

volcanos. Having molten lava exploding from the top of a mountain and make its way down, burning everything in its path.

Anonymous · Answer

A volcano 🌋 it's far far from here 😋😈

An earthquake would just be scary 😧 😳 "oh no, is this the end for Zombie Shakespeare" - The Simpsons dread lol 💀 ☠️ lol scene 👀 ahahahahah 😂 😆

Razp_Sorbet · Answer

Volcanoes probably more, experience earthquakes fairly regularly so

Alex-Snow · Answer

Probably a volcano because seeing the clouds of gas and lava flowing would be cool. Besides volcanos last much longer than earthquakes.

KostasKouvalis · Answer

Volcanoes are cooler, but I do nerd out when we get earthquakes here, because they're so rare here. They're usually small

TonyMetal___86 · Answer

Both are terrible, but volcanos fascinates me more because of what they did to Pompeï's people "frozen in time"...

Shiprex · Answer

Eruption. The fireworks and raw power versus the invisible rocking are more spectacular

YourExLover69 · Answer

None... I don't like and want to see both. 😶

KralArthur · Answer

Eruption feels more fantastic cause I’m in an earthquake country already and it scares the hell out of me

Anonymous · Answer

Volcano girls.

Smegskull · Answer

Volcano, there is more to see. Earthquakes are happening miles underground, out of sight.

PinkSchmetterling · Answer

I’ve always fascinated by eruptions

queenofcardio · Answer

Volcanoes seem fascinating

Miristheiss · Answer

Volcano. Glowing hot lava.

Massageman · Answer

Avoiding them both. Why? Survival.

Likes2drive · Answer

Probably a volcano since you can see it

AgentG111 · Answer

I'd say they are both very interesting.

jimbob70 · Answer

The eruption I can get you to

Jen_oic · Answer

It scares me

Cidknee · Answer

Earthquakes

Vulcano eruption vs Earthquakes. What fascinates you more and why?

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Would you rather experience an EARTHQUAKE or VOLCANO up close, or would you rather hear about it on the news?

Vulcano eruption vs Earthquakes. What fascinates you more and why?

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Would you rather experience an EARTHQUAKE or VOLCANO up close, or would you rather hear about it on the news?

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