What happens if La Palma lava reaches the sea?

As the lava boils away the seawater, more of its surface is exposed to the water, which transfers heat more quickly, the U.S Geological Survey (USGS) Volcano Watch says. Steam is then produced at a more rapid rate. The clouds created can be lethal as they often contain small glass fragments.



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The report claimed that “during a future eruption” the volcano “may experience a catastrophic flank collapse”. The paper suggested that this could create waves capable of transiting “the entire Atlantic Basin and arrive on the coasts of the Americas with 10-25 m (3-8 m) height”.

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Rising gradually to more than 4 km (2.5 mi) above sea level, Hawaii's Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano on our planet. Its submarine flanks descend to the sea floor an additional 5 km (3 mi), and the sea floor in turn is depressed by Mauna Loa's great mass another 8 km (5 mi).

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