VOLCANISM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does volcanism mean? 

• VOLCANISM (noun)
  The noun VOLCANISM has 1 sense:

1. the phenomena associated with volcanic activity

  Familiarity information: VOLCANISM used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VOLCANISM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The phenomena associated with volcanic activity

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Hypernyms ("volcanism" is a kind of...):

geological phenomenon (a natural phenomenon involving the structure or composition of the earth)

 Context examples 

However, in the absence of other similar features, Ina was not considered an indication of widespread volcanism.

(Evidence for Young Lunar Volcanism, NASA)

This detection was a surprise to the scientists, because tridymite is generally associated with silicic volcanism, which is known on Earth but was not thought to be important or even present on Mars.

(NASA Scientists Discover Unexpected Mineral on Mars, NASA)

Most of Earth's volcanism takes place underwater.

(Underwater volcano's fiery eruption captured in detail by seafloor observatory, NSF)

If these ancient rocks are analogs for the magma systems underlying modern supervolcanoes, then explosive volcanism may have been far more abundant in Earth's past than it is today.

(Supervolcanoes like Yellowstone may have been more active in the past, NSF)

They collected 2,500 meters (8,202 feet) of sediment cores from layers that record how the geography, volcanism and climate of Zealandia have changed over the last 70 million years.

(Scientists return from expedition to lost continent of Zealandia, National Science Foundation)

Characteristic minerals resulting from such subglacial volcanism on Earth include zeolites, sulfates and clays.

(Clues about Volcanoes Under Ice on Ancient Mars, NASA)

The greater understanding of volcanism could alter scientists' perception of the mechanics of ice-sheet loss, including in the areas where the glaciers meet the sea.

(Previously unsuspected volcanic activity confirmed under West Antarctic Ice Sheet at Pine Island Glacier, National Science Foundation)

While the effects of volcanic heat on the Antarctic ice sheets is an active topic of research, this study provides the first geochemical evidence of a contemporary volcanic heat source, emphasizing the need to detect and understand volcanism, including in models of ice-sheet behavior.

(Previously unsuspected volcanic activity confirmed under West Antarctic Ice Sheet at Pine Island Glacier, National Science Foundation)