Geologists study Kilauea not only for its eruptions but also for its role in forming the Hawaiian Islands. As a shield volcano, Kilauea’s eruptions typically produce low-viscosity lava flows, which ...

A lava tube may also form, beneath the surface of the ground, when low viscosity lava develops a hard crust through which lava flows.

called alkaline lava, has an extremely low viscosity, making it almost as fluid as water. Alkaline lava has a melting temperature in excess of 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The fluidity and extreme ...

In a field test of their instrument, University at Buffalo researchers gathered viscosity data from lava flows at the Litli-Hrútur eruption in Iceland. Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert!