Because liquid magma is less dense than the surrounding solid material, magma flows upward into any cracks in the rock above. As magma rises toward the surface, the pressure decreases.

Does magma rise up?

Magma can rise when pieces of Earth’s crust called tectonic plates slowly move away from each other. The magma rises up to fill in the space. … When this happens, part of Earth’s crust can be forced deep into its interior. The high heat and pressure cause the crust to melt and rise as magma.

When hot liquid magma reaches the surface what is it called?

When magma flows or erupts onto Earth’s surface, it is called lava. Like solid rock, magma is a mixture of minerals.