Why Do Volcanoes Sleep for Hundreds of Years?

Volcanoes go to sleep when they run out of energy. Imagine a lava lamp, it glows brightly at first, but if you leave it alone for a while, it cools down and stops bubbling. Volcanoes are like that: after an eruption, they need time to rest and collect more energy from deep inside the Earth before they wake up again.

Take the quiz →

Examples

A volcano might sleep for a hundred years, just like you take a nap after playing with your toys.
Imagine a cake being baked, sometimes the oven is empty for a while before the next batch starts cooking.
If the lava inside the Earth cools down, it can't burst out again until it's heated up enough.

Ask a question

Discussion

Recent activity

Categories: Environment · volcanoes· earth science· geology· natural phenomena