Types of Volcanoes and Eruptions

These flashcards cover the definitions and characteristics of various types of volcanoes and their eruptions.

Volcano

A natural opening in the earth's surface where molten rocks, smoke, gases, and ashes are ejected.

Shield Volcano

A volcano formed by the accumulation of lava that flows out from the volcano, resembling a warrior's shield.

Cinder Cone Volcano

A type of volcano built from ejected lava fragments that have a steep slope, wide crater, and are most abundant of the three major types of volcanoes.

Composite Volcano

Also known as stratovolcano, it's a large, nearly perfect sloped structure formed from the alternate solidification of both lava and pyroclastic deposits.

Caldera

A volcanic crater that is formed when a part of the wall of the crater collapses following an explosive eruption.

Phreatic Eruption

A steam-driven eruption that occurs when hot rocks come in contact with water.

Phreatomagmatic Eruption

A violent eruption caused by the contact between water and magma.

Strombolian Eruption

A type of eruption characterized by weak to violent explosive activity and fountain-like lava.

Vulcanian Eruption

An eruption characterized by tall eruptions that can reach up to 20 km high with pyroclastic flow and ashfall tephra.

Plinian Eruption

An excessively explosive type of eruption characterized by vast quantities of gas and pyroclastics.

Active Volcano

A volcano that has erupted in the last 10,000 years, currently erupting, or dormant but expected to erupt again.

Dormant Volcano

A type of active volcano that is not currently erupting but is expected to erupt in the future.

Extinct Volcano

A volcano that has not erupted for at least 10,000 years and is not expected to erupt in the future.