Volcanoes - Leaving Cert Geography

LC Geography - Volcanoes - Key Definitions - Short Questions

volcano

a weak spot in the Earth's crust where magma comes to the surface.

Pacific Ring of Fire

major volcanic belt formed by the many volcanoes in the rim the Pacific Ocean.

Hot Spot

area where magma rises and melts through the crust, reaching the surface.

active volcano

a volcano that is erupting or shows signs of erupting.

dormant volcano

'sleeping' volcano, can become active again in the future.

extinct volcano

volcano that is unlikely to erupt again.

Crater

A bowl-shaped area that forms around a volcano's central opening

Eruption

bursting out

Lava

Magma that reaches Earth's surface

Magma

A molten mixture of rock-forming substances, gases, and water from the mantle. Beneath the Earth's surface

Magma Chamber

A pocket in the volcano where magma collects

Lava Flow

Area covered by lava as it pours out of a vent

Volcanic emissions

Lava flows, pyroclastic debris, tephra, and gases (mainly water vapor and carbon dioxide)

Different types of lava

Acidic lava and Basic lava

Acidic lava

Sticky, viscous lava that flows very slowly, high in silica

Emitted at destructive plate boundaries where subduction occurs

Basic lava

Thin, runny lava which can flow long distances, low in silica

Emitted at constructive plate boundaries and hotspots

Volcanic landforms

Extrusive/ Volcanic landforms and Intrusive/ Plutonic landforms

Extrusive landforms

cones, shield volcanoes and lava plateau