When asked the questions of how volcanoes look and work, we give an answer based off of our general knowledge. Yet some research into the functions of volcanoes and different types there are prove they are much more than just lava flowing geological cones. I will be going into focus about the different types of volcanoes and how to tell the differences between active, inactive, and dormant volcanoes. My focus of approach is merely into the research of volcanoes from past to present.
First, I’d like to briefly go over some terms we will be discussing and how to identify the difference between each term. There are a variety of volcanoes that we can identify by physical characteristics.
Let’s begin with Cinder Cone volcanos, the cinder cone volcano can be classified by the small, rough patches of hardened lava. Also called Scoria Cones, these volcanos are the easiest to classify and or the most common type of volcano. When lava is completely filled with gas bubbles it can erupt from a vent under extreme pressure and can have a fire fountain effect which is when the lava shoots directly into the sky. After this process is over, chunks of lava cool fast and land near the vent. Over time, a cone-shaped hill is built up around the crater creating it’s characteristic.
Next, we have the Shield Volcano which usually forms from a lava flow made of fluid basaltic material. Shield volcanos do vary in terms of formation and do not have a set location of proper formation. For example, the
There are different types of volcanoes, such as shield volcanoes, composite volcanoes, and cinder cone volcanoes that are mentioned in Chapter 9, page 312 of Earth Science. (Refer to figure 2 for volcano type examples.)
Anpother factor that can have an impact on the level of hazard posed by a volcano is the type of plate margin on which it occurs. Volcanoes occuring at constructive plate boundaries are usually much less violent than those occuring at destructive plate boundaries. This is because the magma produced by plates moving apart is Basic, and therefoe has a low viscosity, allowing it to flow easily. The lava is produced from a central vent or fissure and erupts regularly but not usually violently. Also,constructive plate boundaries are often found under the sea and create submarine volcanoes, such as along the Mid-Atalntic ridge, so pose few threats to humans. As a result, the hazards posed by volcanoes at constructive plat eboundaries is relatively low. However, the subduction of one plate under another at destrctive plat eboundaries can form an acidic magma chamber, due to the build up of intense heat. Acidic magma is very viscous and resisitant to flow, meaning that there is often a huge build up of pressure, which can result in very violent and dangerous eruptions involving ash and pyroclastic flow. This can pose a a serious hazard. Pyroclastic flowsa are extremely dense, containing toxic gases at very high temperatures, and can move at speeds over 100km/h. The consequences of such an unpredictable hazard can be extremely seruous
Volcanoes can be found throughout the entire world and are formed when there is a rupture in the mantle of the Earth's crust. This effect allows the output of volcanic lava, ash, and various types of gases. These tectonic plate breaks are normal, the planet Earth is divided into 17 tectonic plates and consistently move against each other forming shifts from low to high intensity. It can cause displacement of earth or water.
There are many differences between the volcanoes for example the explosivity of the two volcanoes most recent eruptions are completely different Kilauea is almost constantly flowing and has virtually no explosions at all it also has low viscosity lava flows running from it constantly where as MT st Helens is completely different in MT st Helens most devastating eruption in 1980
Volcanoes are one of the most destructive, yet, most beautiful things on Earth. They can make a famous city choke in its own ashes in one day, like Pompeii. Or they can turn a once damaging mountain into a graceful and peaceful home for new life, like Mount St. Helen’s. All volcanoes are unique, and no two are the same. Some erupt differently than others, some look different than others, and all are located in different spots all over the world. I learned this while completing the project and the five volcanoes I researched are examples of my discoveries. The five volcanoes I researched were Mount Hood, Mount Mageik, Long Island, Mount Muria, and Las Pilas.
The location of the volcano is also important. If it is situated on a constructive plate boundary then it is generally less explosive, and therefore poses different threats to volcanoes situated on a destructive plate boundary. The volcano may also be situated on a hotspot like in Hawaii, where the eruptions aren’t very explosive. Volcanos which aren’t explosive can pose other threats to lava flows though, such as dangerous gases being released. Like in Lake Nyos, Cameroon where 1700 people died.
One physical factor which causes differences in a volcanic hazard is the steepness of the volcano. If the volcanoes sides are of a steep gradient then the lava from the volcano would flow must faster than if the sides were a steady gradient. Mount Nyiragongo for
The Earth’s outer crust is made up many tectonic plates that move over the surface of the planet. When the plates come collide, volcanoes will form sometime (National Ocean Service). Volcanoes can also form in the middle of a plate, where magma rises upward until it erupts on the sea floor, at what is called a “hot spot” (National Ocean Service). A hot spot is a plume of magma or molten rock that rises from within the Earth then reaches the surface forming underwater volcanoes which may grow tall enough to
A volcano is defined as a mountain or hill that usually has a cup like crater at the summit. A volcano can be compared to a vent in the earths crust through which lava, ashes and steam are expelled (Volcano, n.d.). There are three main types of volcanoes that scientist have discovered active, dormant, and extinct (howstuffworks.com). Active volcanoes are the ones which have erupted recently, or are expected to blow soon (howstuffworks.com). For example Kilauea volcano on Hawaii is the world’s most active volcano (volcanodiscovery.com). A dormant volcano is one that hasn’t erupted in a long while but has a chance erupt again in the future (howstuffworks.com). Best example there is of a dormant volcano is Mauna Kea which is one of the five mountains that make up the big island of Hawaii (Crain, 2009). And extinct volcanoes are the ones that erupted thousands of years ago and has no possibility of erupting again (howstuffworks.com). An extinct volcano is mount Buninyong which is located in Austria the last time this volcano erupted was a little over ten centuries ago and is now somewhat a tourist attraction.
The Raton-Clayton volcanic field is about 20 000 km2 in size, and has been active periodically for the past 9 million years. The area is filled with peaks, cones, and lava-capped mesas. The mesas developed as lava flowed into valleys and depressions, cooled off and formed a resistant top layer over sedimentary rocks. As the surrounding rock eroded, the lava protected the underlying stratigraphy from erosion. This caused todays topography, where that which was once the lowest point, is now the highest. There is some disagreement over why the volcanic field is here, one possible cause is that it is near the end of the Jemez Lineament, which has numerous volcanic centers along its reach, possibly
Volcanoes are one of the most intimidating natural processes that occur on this planet. Usually they are associated with danger and chaos. Volcanoes are characterized by both their composition and eruption types. In this paper we will be exploring the similarities and differences between three infamous volcanoes, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Kileaue, and the currently relevant Mt. Agung.
Volcanoes are extremely interesting, during the past few weeks my classmates and I have been observing zone that volcanoes are located in. My zone was zone two. Zone two is location was on the South American plate, Caribbean plate, and some of the North American plate. Overall my zone was active. Everyday there was at least one volcano active. The first few days of observing the volcanoes were fairly active. One erupting volcano that I recorded on my chart was the volcano Popocatepetl. This volcano is located in Mexico on the North American Plate. I recorded that the volcano was erupting on December 5th, 2016. This is one of the many erupting volcano that occurred on the first few days of monitoring. After a few day the eruption rate did
A Cinder Cone is a mini volcano formed mainly by piroclastic material expelled from a single magma chamber. Has a type of lava that is semisolid, composed of ash and viscose lava. Usually the product of basaltic magma relatively rich in gas, the young cinder cones have steep slopes, between 30 and 40 degrees. Form where the eruptions are of type explosive with predominance of pyroclastic materials.
This is only a general overview of the inner workings of volcanoes and their eruptions. For more infomation, visit Volcano World -- The Premier Source of Volcano Info on the Web.
Shield volcanoes form from the solidification of lava flows of basalt (Abbott 2014). These large volume, low viscosity, low volatiles magma flows travel great distances. As thousands of layers of lava flows cool on top of one another other, volcanoes are formed over a long period of time. The width of these volcanoes is greater than their height, for example Mauna Loa in Hawaii.