Why Do Fumaroles Hiss?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do fumaroles hiss?

The Big Idea

A fumarole is a vent in the ground that lets out steam and gases! It makes a hissing sound, a bit like a kettle or a bike tire. Here's how it works, step by step.

Groundwater Heats

Step one: groundwater heats. Water in the ground gets heated by hot rock below. Some of it turns into steam, which takes up much more room than water.

Squeeze Through

Step two: squeeze through. The steam rushes up through narrow cracks in the rock. It speeds up as it squeezes through the tight spaces, like air through the neck of a pinched balloon.

Hiss!

Step three: hiss! Fast steam and gas bump the air as they escape, and that makes a hissing sound. It is a lot like the whistle of a kettle, just much bigger.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Hot rock turns groundwater into steam. The steam rushes into narrow cracks. Fast gas shakes the air around it. And that is the hiss you hear from the vent.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Fumaroles keep working long after an eruption has ended, sometimes for years. Some fumaroles are on the sides of volcanoes, and some are in flat valleys. Fumaroles can be very hot, so never touch them. Scientists measure their gases to learn about the volcano below.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Blow air through a drinking straw. Then pinch the straw to make it narrow, and blow again. Hear the hiss get louder? The narrow cracks in the ground do the same thing to steam, only much louder!

Outro

Narrow cracks make steam hiss. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!