What causes volcanic eruptions and where do they typically occur?

Volcanic eruptions occur when magma, ash, and gas escape from a magma chamber beneath the Earth's surface. The pressure from the magma chamber becomes too great, causing the magma to rise and find a way to the surface. When the magma reaches the surface, it is called lava. The type of eruption depends on the type of magma and the amount of gas and ash that are released.

Volcanoes can occur at convergent plate boundaries, divergent plate boundaries, and hotspots. Convergent plate boundaries occur when two plates collide, causing one to subduct beneath the other. Divergent plate boundaries occur when two plates move away from each other, creating a gap that magma can fill. Hotspots occur where a plume of hot magma rises up from deep within the Earth's mantle.

Volcanoes are found all over the world, but they are most commonly found along the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is a horseshoe-shaped region around the Pacific Ocean where many of the world's earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur. Other volcanic regions include the Mediterranean, the Atlantic Ocean, and the East African Rift.