Which mechanism primarily causes stratovolcanoes to exhibit explosive eruptions with significant pyroclastic flow?

💡 Explanation

When high-viscosity magma is present, gas exsolution is inhibited because the magma's resistance to flow prevents the easy escape of dissolved gases, leading to pressure buildup that culminates in an explosive eruption. Therefore, high-viscosity magma trapping dissolved gasses creates significant flows, rather than earthquakes, rapid exsolution or magma/water interactions which have different effects.

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