vent

^{ALASKA VOLCANO OBSERVATORY GLOSSARY}

An opening in the Earth's surface through which magma erupts or volcanic gases are emitted.

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^{GLOSSARY OF VOLCANIC TERMS}

A surface opening through which volcanogenic materials are erupted (Davidson and DeSilva, 2000, p. 663). Typically thought of as a hole in a planet from which volcanic products (magma, ash, etc.) are erupted (Spudis, 2000, p. 697).

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^{USGS PHOTO GLOSSARY OF VOLCANIC TERMS}

or volcanic vent

Vents are openings in the Earth's crust from which molten rock and volcanic gases escape onto the ground or into the atmosphere. Vents may consist of a single circular-shaped structure, a large elongate fissure and fracture, or a tiny ground crack. The release of volcanic gases and the eruption of molten rock will result in an assortment of constructional features ranging from enormous shield volcanoes and calderas to fumaroles and small rootless hornitos.

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Photograph by C. Heliker on 21 February 1997

Small lava fountain erupts from a new vent on the flank of Pu`u `O`o spatter and cinder cone on the east rift zone of Kilauea Volcano, Hawai`i.