Volcano Types | Universe Today

Written by Abby Cessna

Ring of Fire Volcanoes

Scientists have classified volcanoes into a number of different categories. These classifications are based on several criteria. Some scientists have made more categories than others. Thus this is not a complete list. Additionally, some of these volcanoes, such as the submarine volcanoes, also fall into another category.

Composite volcanoes are also known as strata volcanoes because they are composed of separate or stratified layers. These layers are made of hardened lava, volcanic ash, and tephra. Some of the tallest mountains, such as Mt. Fuji, are actually composite volcanoes. These volcanoes are tall and conical and common in subduction zones.

Lava domes are circular volcanoes, but they are more built up than shield volcanoes are. Lava domes are usually formed from thick lava that cannot travel far and builds up along the sides of the vent. Often, the lava is in clumps that solidify, so the dome is covered with bulbous protrusions. Lava domes commonly form near composite volcanoes, such as the Novarupta Dome located near the Katmai Volcano.

Cinder cones are what most people think about when they think about volcanoes. Cinder cones are a simple conical shape and eject lava from one main vent. They are formed from material known as cinders, which is ejected from the volcano and then settles around it, building up the volcano through repeated eruption. These volcanoes are very common in North America.

Shield volcanoes are very large; they get their name from their shape, which resembles an upside down bowl. These volcanoes are formed by runny lava streaming out of one or more vents and pouring down the sides. The lava from shield volcanoes is very runny, which is why it flows so far. A number of famous shield volcanoes are located in Hawaii. Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano, is a shield volcano.

There are also volcanoes that fall outside the “normal” categories of volcanoes. These include supervolcanoes, submarine volcanoes, and subglacial volcanoes. Supervolcanoes are volcanoes that are extremely large and could cause devastating damage if they erupted. Many geologists debate how large a volcano has to be in order to be classified as a supervolcano. The Yellowstone Caldera in Yellowstone National Park is a supervocano. Submarine volcanoes are simply underwater volcanoes. Submarine volcanoes are concentrated in the Ring of Fire in the Pacific Ocean. Subglacial volcanoes are volcanoes that are located under icecaps. The lava flows across the top, which forms flat mountains that are visible when the icecap melts.

Universe Today has articles on 3 types of volcanoes and 10 interesting facts about volcanoes.

For more information, check out principal types of volcanoes and types of volcanoes.

Astronomy Cast has an episode on volcanoes.

Filed under: Astronomy