A lava channel is a stream of fluid

lava Lava is molten or partially molten rock (magma) that has been expelled from the interior of a terrestrial planet (such as Earth) or a moon onto its surface. Lava may be erupted at a volcano or through a fracture in the crust, on land or ...

contained within zones of static (i.e., solid and stationary) lava or lava levees. The initial channel may not contain

levees A levee (), dike (American English), dyke (Commonwealth English), embankment, floodbank, or stop bank is a structure that is usually earthen and that often runs parallel to the course of a river in its floodplain or along low-lying coastli ...

per se, until the parental flow solidifies over what develops into the channel and creates natural levees. This initial levee allows for the building of a more complex levee and channel. As the lava flows through the channel, the elevation of the surface of the lava flow pulsates and lava can possibly flood the associated channel walls spilling out of the channel and over the existing levees, creating what is known as overflow levees. Overflow levees increase the height and width of the original levee. The lava that flows in lava channels is commonly

basaltic Basalt (; ) is an aphanitic (fine-grained) extrusive igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava rich in magnesium and iron ( mafic lava) exposed at or very near the surface of a rocky planet or moon. More than ...

in composition. Image-Lava channel with overflows edit 3

References

*Ailsa Allaby and Michael Allaby. "lava channel." ''A Dictionary of Earth Sciences''. 1999. Retrieved June 27, 2011 fro
Encyclopedia.com
*Harris, A., M, Favalli., F, Mazzarini, C, Hamilton., 2008. Construction dynamics of a lava channel. Bulletin of Volcanology. 71. (4):459-474.

External links

Volcanism Volcanic landforms {{Volcanology-stub

See also

References

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