Types of Volcanoes based on

structure
 Composite Volcanoes
 Shield Volcanoes
 Cinder Cones
 Composite Volcanoes
 Composite volcanoes, also called
strato volcanoes, are formed by
alternating layers of lava and rock
fragments.  This is the reason they
are called composite.
 Strato-volcanoes often form
impressive, snow-capped peaks
which are often exceeding 2500m
in height, 1000sq.km in surface,
and 400km3 in volume.
 strato-volcanoes are usually large
and conical. Mount Saint Helens in
Washington, Mt. Vesuvius in Italy and
Mt. Mayon in the Philippines are
examples of this type
 Shield Volcanoes
 Shield volcanoes are huge in size.  They are built by many
layers of runny lava flows. Lava spills out of a central vent or
group of vents.  A broad shaped, gently sloping cone is
formed.  This is caused by the very fluid, basaltic lava which
can't be piled up into steep mounds
 Shield volcanoes may be produced by hot spots which lay far
away from the edges of tectonic plates.   Shields also occur
along the mid-oceanic ridge, where sea-floor spreading is in
progress and along subduction related volcanic arcs.
 The eruptions of shield volcanoes are characterized by low-
explosivity lava-fountaining that forms cinder cones and
spatter cones at the vent.  Famous shield volcanoes can be
found for example in Hawaii (e.g. Mauna Loa and Kilauea).
 Cinder Cones
 are the simplest
type of volcano
o Most cinder cones have a steep slope,
wide
crater and are the most abundant of the
three
major volcano types.
 A cinder cone is a steep conical hill
formed above a vent.  Cinder cones
Cinder Cones
are among the most common
volcanic landforms found in the
world.  They aren't famous as their
eruptions usually don't cause any
loss of life..  The cones usually grow
up in groups and they often occur
on the flanks of strato volcanoes
and shield volcanoes.
 are formed from alternating ejected
lava fragments and ash. They have
a steep slope, wide
crater on top and are the most
abundant of the three major volcano
types. Although small, they are also
destructive since they release high
amounts of pyroclastic materials.
 Cinder cones are built from lava fragments called cinders. 
The lava fragments are ejected from a single vent and
accumulate around the vent when they fall back to earth.
 Cinder cones grow rapidly and soon approach their
maximum size.  They rarely exceed 250m in height and
500m in diameter.
 The shape of a cinder cone can be modified during its
(short) life. 
 A great example of a cinder cone is Paricutín in Mexico.  It
was born in February 20, 1943 in a corn field and grew to
300 feet in 5 days.
 Different Types of Volcanic
lava flows (not viscous)
Eruptions
1. low water, low silica - runny 3. high water, low silica(not
viscous) - fountain of runny lava

2. low water, high silica (very

viscous) - pasty lava - often building
4. high water, high silica
domes
(very viscous) - explosion
 Impacts and Effects of
Volcanoes
 The sudden violence of volcanic eruptions causes catastrophe
and devastation.  Various notorious eruptions of volcanoes in
the past, such as Mount Pelée, Tambora, Krakatau and
Pinatubo have demonstrated the devastating impact of volcanic
activity on nearby landscapes and communities.  Many people
got killed.  A big number of people had to abandon their homes
and land forever.  Even the whole world's climate was changed
for a while as a result of an eruption!
 These effects of volcanic eruptions are mostly the result of
certain hazards.  Volcanoes provide different hazards during an
eruption.  Each hazard poses different risks affecting different
areas. 
 How Volcanoes Erupt
 An eruption begins when pressure on a magma chamber forces magma up through the conduit and out the
volcano's vents.  When the magma chamber has been completely filled, the type of eruption partly depends
on the amount of gases and silica in the magma.  The amount of silica determines how sticky (level of
viscosity) the magma is and water provides the explosive potential of steam.
 Obstacles also influence the type of eruption.  When the pipe is blocked by a stopple or an accumulation of
pumice, the pressure in the pipe will build up very high resulting in an explosion.
 When magma reaches earth's surface it is called lava.  It may pour out in gentle streams called lava flows or
erupt violently into the air.  Rocks ripped loose from the inside of the volcano or torn apart by the gas may be
shot into the air with the lava.  These rocks blown out of a volcano are called pyroclastic rocks.  The rock
fragments fall back to earth in many different shapes and sizes:
– Dust - particles less than 1/100 inch in diameter
Dust particles may be carried great distances. In a powerful eruption they may be carried around the
earth several times.
– Ash - fragments less than 1/5 inch in diameter
Most volcanic ash falls to the surface and cemented together by water to form a rock called volcanic
tuff.
– Bomb - A rounded piece of newly hardened lava which takes shape while flying through the air.
– Block - A piece of lava that has sharp corners.
– Cinder - Bubbly rock formed by liquid lava cooling in the air.
– Pumice - Cinder so bubbly that it floats in water.  
 Volcanic activity is classified by how often a volcano erupts.  A volcano may be active, intermittent, dormant,
or extinct.  Active volcanoes erupt constantly.  Intermittent volcanoes erupt fairly regularly.  Dormant
volcanoes are inactive, but not long enough to determine whether they will erupt again or not.  Extinct
volcanoes have been inactive since the beginning of recorded history.
Active Volcanoes in the last
10,000 years