Volcanoes: Beyond What Students Think

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to volcanoes, their types, eruptions, and associated geological terms.

Volcano

An opening or vent where lava, tephra, and steam erupt onto the Earth's surface.

Active Volcano

A volcano that has had eruptions in historic times, shows signs of unrest, and has volcanic deposits less than 10,000 years old.

Dormant Volcano

A volcano that is not currently erupting but could erupt again and typically shows no present unrest.

Extinct Volcano

A volcano that is not expected to erupt again and is deeply eroded.

Composite Volcano

A steep cone-shaped volcano formed by stacked lavas from explosive eruptions.

Shield Volcano

A broad, dome-shaped volcano formed by low-viscosity lava flows, characterized by gentle slopes.

Cinder Cone Volcano

A small, steep-sided volcano built from ejected lava fragments, often with a single vent.

Magma

Molten rock beneath the Earth's surface; lava is magma that has moved out from a volcano.

Effusive Eruption

An eruption involving a quiet outpouring of lava with minimal or no explosions.

Explosive Eruption

An eruption characterized by powerful gas-driven explosions that launch magma, ash, and rock fragments into the atmosphere.

Lahar

A volcanic mudflow that occurs when water mixes with volcanic materials, such as ash and rock fragments.

Pacific Ring of Fire

A major area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur due to tectonic plate movements.

Pyroclastic Flow

A fast-moving current of hot gas and volcanic matter (such as ash, tephra, and pumice) that flows down the slopes of a volcano.

Phreatic Eruption

An eruption caused by the contact of water with hot rock or magma, resulting in steam-driven explosions.

Hotspot

A location where magma from deep within the mantle melts through the crust above it, often resulting in volcanic activity.