lava blister

views updated

lava blister The surficial swelling of a plastic lava flow crust in response to the puffing up of gas or vapour from beneath the flow. Blisters may also form through hydrostatic or artesian forces in the lava. They are usually 1–150 m in diameter, with a maximum height of 30 m, and are hollow. Compare TUMULUS.

More From encyclopedia.com