Why Does Aa Lava Look Spiky?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why does aa lava look spiky?

The Big Idea

Aa lava is thick, sticky lava that breaks into rough, sharp chunks. It moves slowly, like a bulldozer made of rock. It is spiky because it cracks while it is still moving, which makes the ground very rough.

Thick and Sticky

Step one: thick and sticky. Aa lava is stiffer than pahoehoe, and it often has lots of gas escaping from it. It cannot flow smoothly, so it crawls along, and it is much too hot to touch.

Cracking Crust

Step two: the crust breaks. The surface cools into a crust, but the moving lava below keeps pulling it apart. It shatters into rough, sharp chunks called clinkers.

Bulldozer Front

Step three: a rocky bulldozer. Clinkers tumble off the front, and the flow slowly rolls over them and covers them again. That is why the flow looks like a moving pile of rubble.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! The lava is thick and sticky. Its crust cracks apart as it moves. The broken pieces are sharp clinkers. The jagged ground is very tough to walk across, even after it cools.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Try saying it: ah-ah, two short sounds! The word comes from Hawaii. Aa and pahoehoe can come from the same volcano, even in the same eruption. Pahoehoe lava can change into aa lava as it cools and loses gas.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Crumple a sheet of paper into a jagged ball. Put it next to a smooth, flat sheet. Which looks more like aa? Which is more like pahoehoe?

Outro

Aa lava is spiky because its thick crust breaks apart as it moves. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!