Volcanoes Vocabulary Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards defining key volcanic landforms, processes, structures, and global zones from the lecture.

Endogenic Forces

The forces relating to or arising from the interior of the earth, classified into diastrophic and sudden movements.

Volcano

A vent in the earth's crust from which fiery hot magma erupts from the earth's interior.

Magma Chamber

A huge reservoir created under the earth's crust by molten material melting weak rocks, joined to the surface by a volcanic vent.

Magma

The molten rock material inside the earth consisting of silicate material, gases, and water vapours.

Lava

Magma when it reaches the surface of the earth.

Pyroclasts

Solid rock fragment pieces ejected by a volcano that are picked up by magma in the course of its upward movement.

Lapilli

Small stone-sized solid particles ejected by a volcano.

Vent

An opening in the earth's crust, usually like a circular pipe, through which lava flows out.

Volcanic Cone

A typical cone-like structure formed by the accumulation, gradual cooling, and solidification of erupted fluid material around the vent.

Active Volcanoes

Volcanoes that are presently in an active state and have erupted in the recent past, with about $500$ known examples including Mt. Stromboli, Mt. Etna, Pinatubo, and Mauna Loa.

Dormant Volcanoes

Volcanoes that have not erupted in the recent historical period and are regarded as 'sleeping volcanoes' that may become active at any time, such as Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Vesuvius.

Extinct Volcanoes

Volcanoes that have not erupted in the present geological period and are not likely to become active again, such as Mt. Aconcagua and Mt. Kenya.

Extrusive Landforms

Landforms created on the earth's surface due to the cooling and solidification of lava.

Volcanic Plateaus

Extrusive landforms derived from lava flowing from volcanic eruptions, such as the Plateau of Peninsular India, Columbian Plateau, and Ethiopian plateau.

Volcanic Plains

Vast and smooth plains formed by extensive volcanic flooding from volcanic centres, such as the Western Victorian Plains in Victoria, Australia.

Caldera

A large depression formed at the summit of a volcano when the magma chamber can no longer emit sufficient magma, causing the cone to collapse.

Hot Springs

Thermal springs formed when underground water heated by magma gushes up to the surface, containing dissolved minerals like sulfur.

Geyser

A fountain of hot water and steam that escapes when underground water comes into contact with hot volcanic rocks, with vent water temperatures reaching up to $95.6\,^{\circ}\text{C}$.

Circum Pacific Belt

Also known as the Pacific Ring of Fire, a volcanic zone located near earthquake belts around young fold mountains where over $80\%$ of active volcanoes are concentrated.

Mid-world Mountain Belt

A major volcanic belt that includes Mt. Vesuvius, Mt. Etna, Mt. Stromboli, Hawaiian Islands, Canary Islands, Mt. Kenya, and the only active volcano in India.

Plate Tectonics

The theory that explains the movements of plates of the lithosphere and resultant landforms.

Extrusive forces

Forces acting on the surface of the earth.

Hayli Gubbi

A shield volcano in the Afar Basin of Ethiopia within the East African Rift zone that erupted unexpectedly on November 23, 2025, after $12\,000$ years.