Volcanoes

A Volcano is… A geographic feature on the Earth’s surface (as well as other planets) where magma erupts through the Earth’s surface. Volcanoes tend to exist on or near plate boundaries, however there are exceptions. There are three different types of volcanoes as geologists have classified them. Each will be discussed briefly in this presentation.

Shield Volcano Shield volcanoes are built almost entirely of fluid lava flows, which flows and hardens over time. This creates a mellow slope, a volcano which resembles a warriors shield, which is where it got its name. Some of the largest volcanoes in the world are shield volcanoes.

Picture of a Shield Volcano

Composite/Strato Volcano Composite, also known as stratovolvanoes are large, steep sided volcanoes built of alternating layers of lava flows, volcanic ash, and cinders. Composite volcanoes have a magma reservoir deep in the Earth’s crust from which the magma rises.

Picture of a Composite Volcano

Cinder Cone Volcano Cinder cone volcanoes are the simplest type of volcano. They are built from blobs of congealed volcanoes ejected from a single vent. Most Cinder cones are relatively small, most of them being less than 1000 feet.

Picture of a Cinder Volcano

Our Model Volcano Our model volcano is most like a Cinder Cone Volcano, in that it has very steep sides. Our volcano may or may not shoot out magma as a cinder cone would. Our model, in reality has some characteristics of both stratovolcanoes and cinder cones. Overall, however, I think it resembles a cinder cone more closely.

Works Cited ossary/shieldvolcanohttp://volcanoes.usgs.gov/imgs/jpg/photogl ossary/shieldvolcano y/icons/stratostrombolib.jpghttp:// y/icons/stratostrombolib.jpg