Phreatic
eruptions are steam-driven explosions that occur when water
beneath the ground or on the surface is heated by
magma,
lava, hot rocks, or new volcanic deposits (for example,
tephra
and pyroclastic-flow deposits). The intense heat of such material
(as high as 1,170 ° C for
basaltic
lava) may cause water to boil and flash to steam, thereby
generating an explosion of steam, water,
ash, blocks, and bombs.