What is a volcano?

A volcano is a mountain that opens downward to a pool of molten rock below the surface of
the earth. When pressure builds up, eruptions occur. Gases and rock shoot up through the
opening and spill over or fill the air with lava fragments. Eruptions can cause lateral blasts,
lava flows, hot ash flows, mudslides, avalanches, falling ash and floods. Volcano eruptions
have been known to knock down entire forests. An erupting volcano can trigger tsunamis,
flash floods, earthquakes, mudflows and rockfalls.

How are volcanoes formed?

Volcanoes are formed when magma from within the Earth's upper mantle works its way to
the surface. At the surface, it erupts to form lava flows and ash deposits. Over time as
the volcano continues to erupt, it will get bigger and bigger.

What are the different stages of volcanoes?

Scientists have categorized volcanoes into three main categories: active, dormant, and
extinct. An active volcano is one which has recently erupted and there is a possibility that
it may erupt soon. A dormant volcano is one which has not erupted in a long time but there
is a possibility it can erupt in the future. An extinct volcano is one which has erupted
thousands of years ago and theres no possibility of eruption.

Why do volcanoes erupt?

The Earth's crust is made up of huge slabs called plates, which fit together like a jigsaw
puzzle. These plates sometimes move. The friction causes earthquakes and volcanic
eruptions near the edges of the plates. The theory that explains this process is called
plate tectonics.

What are plate tectonics?

The theory of plate tectonics is a interesting story of continents drifting from place to
place breaking apart, colliding, and grinding against each other. The plate tectonic theory
is supported by a wide range of evidence that considers the earth's crust and upper
mantle to be composed of several large, thin, relatively rigid plates that move relative to
one another. The plates are all moving in different directions and at different speeds.
Sometimes the plates crash together, pull apart or sideswipe each other. When this
happens, it commonly results in earthquakes.

How many volcanoes are there?

There are more than 1500 active volcanoes on the Earth. We currently know of 80 or more

which are under the oceans. Active volcanoes in the U.S. are found mainly in Hawaii,
Alaska, California, Oregon and Washington.

What are the different types of volcanoes?

Volcanoes are grouped into four types: cinder cones, composite volcanoes, shield
volcanoes and lava volcanoes.
Cinder cones are circular or oval cones made up of small fragments of
Cinder Cones lava from a single vent that have been blown into the air, cooled and
fallen around the vent.
Composite
Volcanoes

Shield
Volcanoes

Lava
Volcanoes

Composite volcanoes are steep-sided volcanoes composed of many

layers of volcanic rocks, usually made from high-viscosity lava, ash and
rock debris. Mt. Rainier and Mount St. Helens are examples of this
type of volcano.
Shield volcanoes are volcanoes shaped like a bowl or shield in the
middle with long gentle slopes made by basaltic lava flows. Basalt lava
flows from these volcanoes are called flood basalts. The volcanoes
that formed the basalt of the Columbia Plateau were shield volcanoes.
Lava domes are formed when erupting lava is too thick to flow and
makes a steep-sided mound as the lava piles up near the volcanic vent.
The eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980 was caused in part by a lava
dome shifting to allow explosive gas and steam to escape from inside
the mountain.

What is the difference between lava and magma?

Magma is liquid rock inside a volcano. Lava is liquid rock (magma) that flows out of a
volcano. Fresh lava glows red hot to white hot as it flows.

Why does lava take a long time to cool down?

Lava cools slowly because lava is a poor conductor of heat. Lava flows slow down and
thicken as they harden.

What is a pyroclastic flow?

A pyroclastic flow is a fluidized mixture of solid to semi-solid fragments and hot,
expanding gases that flows down the sides of a volcano. These awesome features are
heavier-than-air emulsions that move much like a snow avalanche, except that they are

fiercely hot, contain toxic gases, and move at phenomenal, hurricane-force speeds. They
are the most deadly of all volcanic phenomena.

What is lahar?
A lahar is a type of mudflow or debris flow composed of pyroclastic material, rocky debris,
and water. The material flows down from a volcano, typically along a river valley. It is very
dangerous because it's consistency and the way it acts is very much like cement. It is
liquid when it's moving, but when it stops, it solidifies. This can cause just as much
devastation as lava itself.

What is pumice?
Pumice is a light, porous volcanic rock that forms during explosive eruptions. It resembles
a sponge because it consists of a network of gas bubbles frozen amidst fragile volcanic
glass and minerals. All types of magma (basalt, andesite, dacite, and rhyolite) will form
pumice.

What is the largest active volcano?

The world's largest, active volcano is Mauna Loa in Hawaii, where famous coffee is grown in
the rich volcanic soils. Mauna Loa is 13,677 feet above sea level. From its base below sea
level to its summit, Mauna Loa is taller than Mount Everest.

What is the Ring of Fire?

The Pacific Ring of Fire is an area of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
encircling the basin of the Pacific Ocean. The Ring of Fire has 452 volcanoes and is home
to over 50% of the world's active and dormant volcanoes. Ninety percent of the world's
earthquakes and 81% of the world's largest earthquakes occur along the Ring of Fire.

When did Mount St. Helens erupt?

On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted. It's located in southwestern Washington
State in the Cascade Range. The blast was heard as far away as Montana, Idaho, Canada
and California. Fifty-seven people died and the eruption caused $1.2 billion in damage.

What are some other notable volcano eruptions?

Krakatoa was a dormant volcano in Indonesia, which awakened and produced one of the
biggest volcanic eruptions in 1883. So massive was the eruption that the sound of it was
heard as far away as Australia. Its widely reported as the loudest sound heard in
recorded history. The Krakatoa eruption created a huge amount of ash cloud which

covered the Earth and reduced global temperatures for 5 years! A total of 40,000 people
died in that explosion and an entire chain of the volcanic island was destroyed.
Mount Pelee was a dormant volcano situated in the Caribbean island of Martinique. In
1902, it erupted in a massive horizontal explosion sending huge clouds of ash released
towards the nearby town of Saint-Pierre. The side of the volcano exploded and lava flowed
straight into the town, killing 30,000 people in a matter of minutes. It is regarded as one
of the biggest and most devastating volcanic eruptions of the 20th century, a benchmark
for future eruptions.
Mount Fujiyama, also popularly known as Mount Fuji, is an active volcano which last
erupted in 1708. It is incidentally the tallest mountain in Japan. If you are visiting Tokyo,
the capital of Japan, look in the west on a clear day and you will be able to see Mount Fuji.
It is an iconic volcano. Mount Fuji is 3,776 meters high and it is snow clad throughout the
year, with five lakes surrounding it. Currently in a state of dormancy, there has not been
any eruption reported for more than 300 years. The last known eruption lasted for about 3
weeks during which it covered the surrounding villages with ash and cinders. Mount Fuji is
now a popular tourist location with a large number of climbers actively scaling the mountain
top.