The diagram illustrates the stages involved in the formation of supervolcanoes, starting with magma buildup beneath the Earth’s crust and culminating in the creation of a land depression following an eruption.
Initially, magma accumulates in a chamber located below the crust. This buildup exerts immense pressure on the overlying surface, causing stress and the formation of fissures in the crust. As the pressure intensifies over time, the magma is forced upwards through the fissures, resulting in a massive volcanic eruption. The eruption releases large volumes of lava, smoke, and ash, which are expelled into the atmosphere.
Following the eruption, the emptied magma chamber causes the surface above it to collapse due to the loss of structural support. This collapse forms a significant land depression, referred to as a caldera. The size of the landmass above the chamber is significantly reduced as a result of this process.
Overall, the formation of super volcanoes involves a sequence of events driven by the accumulation of magma, the buildup of pressure, the eventual eruption, and the resultant surface collapse. These processes create some of the largest and most impactful volcanic structures on Earth.