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What Is a Fumarole?

geologyvolcanology

Quick Answer

A fumarole is a vent in the Earth's surface that emits steam and volcanic gases from underground magma.

The Full Story

A fumarole is an opening in the Earth's crust, typically found near active volcanoes, geothermal areas, and hot springs, through which steam and volcanic gases such as sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen fluoride escape from underground magma chambers. The word comes from the Latin "fumariolum," meaning smoke hole. Fumarole temperatures range from below 100°C (low-temperature fumaroles) to over 900°C near active volcanic vents. They are found worldwide at volcanic hotspots — Iceland's Hverir geothermal area, Yellowstone's Roaring Mountain, and Italy's Solfatara crater near Naples are famous examples. Geologists monitor fumaroles because changes in gas composition or temperature can signal impending volcanic activity.

Key Facts

1.The sulfur-yellow deposits around fumaroles are mined in Indonesia and other countries — a dangerous occupation known as sulfur mining
2.Fumaroles on the ocean floor, called hydrothermal vents or "black smokers," can reach temperatures above 400°C
3.Some fumaroles have been continuously active for hundreds of years

YouTube Angle

Suggested video title for this topic:

"Earth's steam vents — how fumaroles reveal what's happening deep beneath volcanoes"

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