The diagram illustrates the process of supervolcanoes formation. Looking from an overall perspective, the process consists of four stages, divided into two primary phases: the accumulation of magma and the eruption of the volcano.
The process commences deep beneath the Earth’s surface, in a layer known as the mantle, where magma starts to accumulate in a chamber located below the crust. This stage is characterised by the continuous injection of magma into the chamber from the mantle. As the magma chamber expands, it exerts upward pressure on the crust. Over time, as the pressure intensifies, the crust eventually fractures, creating fissures that extend from the chamber to the surface.
An eruption occurs when the volume of magma exceeds the capacity of the chamber and the structural limits of the crust. This results in the release of lava and smoke through the fissures. Following the eruption, the sudden depletion of magma significantly reduces the size of the magma chamber. This reduction in volume causes a dramatic loss of former structural support for the overlying crust, leading to its collapse and forming a large depression on the surface. This final stage completes the transformation of the area into a supervolcano.