How do you describe a composite volcano?

How do you describe a composite volcano?

A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a conical volcano built up by many layers (strata) of hardened lava and tephra. They are among the most common types of volcanoes, in contrast to the less common shield volcanoes.

What are the main characteristics of composite volcano?

Composite volcanoes have the following characteristics:

  • Acidic lava, which is very viscous (sticky).
  • Steep sides as the lava doesn’t flow very far before it solidifies.
  • Alternate layers of ash and lava. For this reason, they’re also known as stratovolcanoes .
  • Violent eruptions.
  • Longer periods between eruptions.

What is in a composite cone volcano?

Key Takeaways: Composite Volcano Composite volcanoes, also called stratovolcanoes, are cone-shaped volcanoes built from many layers of lava, pumice, ash, and tephra. Because they are built of layers of viscous material, rather than fluid lava, composite volcanoes tend to form tall peaks rather than rounded cones.

What does a composite volcano eruption look like?

Composite volcanoes have steep slopes, forming a basically symmetrical shape. The last eruption of the volcano may have even created a bowl, a caldera, at its peak, making it appear as if the top of the mountain was sliced off, or it may have collapsed from its own weight. Before Mount St.

Which of the best describes a volcano?

A volcano is defined as an opening in the Earth’s crust through which lava, ash, and gases erupt. The term also includes the cone-shaped landform built by repeated eruptions over time.

What do composite volcanoes look like?

Composite volcanoes. They are typically steep-sided, symmetrical cones of large dimension built of alternating layers of lava flows, volcanic ash, cinders, blocks, and bombs and may rise as much as 8,000 feet above their bases.

What type of eruption comes from a composite volcano?

Composite volcanoes are tall, steep cones that produce explosive eruptions. Shield volcanoes form very large, gently sloped mounds from effusive eruptions.

How do you describe a volcano?

What is a volcano? Volcanoes are openings, or vents where lava, tephra (small rocks), and steam erupt on to the Earth’s surface. Many mountains form by folding, faulting, uplift, and erosion of the Earth’s crust. Volcanic terrain, however, is built by the slow accumulation of erupted lava.

How do you describe volcanic eruption?

Definition: A volcanic eruption occurs when magma is released from a volcano. Volcanic eruptions can be quite calm and effusive, or they can be explosive. Effusive eruptions produce lava flows, while explosive eruptions produce ash and pyroclastic density currents. Volcanic Eruption.

Where are composite cone volcanoes found?

Famous examples of composite cones are Mayon Volcano, Philippines, Mount Fuji in Japan, and Mount Rainier, Washington, U.S.A. Some composite volcanoes attain two to three thousand meters in height above their bases. Most composite volcanoes occur in chains and are separated by several tens of kilometers.

What are the parts of a volcano briefly describe each?

Sill – A flat piece of rock formed when magma hardens in a crack in a volcano. Vent – An opening in Earth’s surface through which volcanic materials escape. Lava – Molten rock that erupts from a volcano that solidifies as it cools. Crater – Mouth of a volcano – surrounds a volcanic vent.

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