1.

Definition of Volcano
The definition of a volcano is a rupture in the Earth's crust where molten lava, hot ash, and gases from
below the Earths crust escape into the air.
Types of Volcanos
Plate Volcanoes - The majority of volcanoes are formed when two of the Earths plates meet and collide.
These volcanoes actually occur on the ocean floor.
If the amount of magma is significant enough, then the magma rises above the surface of the ocean.
This is known as an island. When the two plates collide and one plate forces the other plate beneath it, a
different reaction occurs.
If this happens, then the friction that is caused during this reaction makes the plate melt that is beneath
the other plate. This then causes magma to rise up, and this creates a volcano. The volcanoes that form
by this method are usually the most dangerous and the most volatile ones.
Shield Volcanoes - Shield volcanoes are extremely broad and flat when compared to other volcanoes.
Their shape is created by a significant amount of lava running down the surface of the volcano, and then
cooling. The eruptions of shield volcanoes arent as severe as other volcanoes. When a shield volcano
erupts, gases escape and the lava rise to the surface to gently flow down the sides of the volcano.
Composite Volcanoes - Composite volcanoes, also known as strato-volcanoes, are formed by alternate
layers of rock fragments and lava. The shape of a composite volcano is large and cone-like.
Caldera Volcanoes - Caldera volcanoes are formed from considerable amounts of magma erupting from
sub-surface magma chambers. When the magma erupts, it leaves an empty space below the surface.
The eruption of a caldera volcano generally has the coolest lava; but, they are the most dangerous
because their eruption might also cause tsunamis, large pyroclastic surges, and widespread falling of
ash.
Decade Volcanoes - These volcanoes are sixteen volcanoes that have been identified by scientists as
noteworthy due to their large eruptions, and their closeness to populated areas. They include:
Avachinsky-Koryaksky in Russia, Nevado de Colima in Mexico, Mount Etna in Italy, Galeras in Colombia,
Mauna Loa in the United States, Mount Merapa in Indonesia, Mount Nyiragongo in Africa, Mount Rainer
in the United States, Sakurajima in Japan, Santa Maria in Guatemala, Santorini in Greece, Taal Volcano in
the Philippines, Teide in Spain, Ulawun in New Britain, Mount Unzen in Japan, and Mount Vesuvius in
Italy. What are active and inactive volcanoes?

A:Active volcanoes are those that have erupted recently or regularly erupt, and inactive
volcanoes are those that have not erupted for a long time. The exact time distinction between
active and inactive volcanoes differs between experts.
Currently active volcanoes are volcanoes that are erupting presently, and there are almost
always some erupting throughout the world. Active volcanoes are expected to erupt in the near
future on a relatively regular schedule. Some people consider volcanoes active if they have
erupted in the past 100 years, but others do not classify a volcano as inactive or dormant until
hundreds or thousands of years have passed.
Dormant and inactive are often used interchangeably, but they have subtle differences.
Dormant volcanoes are expected, and have the ability, to erupt in the future. They may have a

long cycle between eruptions during which they

are dormant. Inactive volcanoes are usually not
expected to erupt in the future and have not
erupted in recent history.
Dormant and inactive volcanoes can become
extinct after many years. This happens when a
volcano moves away from its magma source or
its source becomes empty. The shifting of
tectonic plates can move volcanoes away from
the source, which results in extinct volcanoes
that have no chance of erupting.
An eruption begins when pressure on a magma
chamber forces magma up through the conduit and
out the volcano's vents. When the magma chamber
has been completely filled, the type of eruption
partly depends on the amount of gases and silica in
the magma. The amount of silica determines how
sticky (level of viscosity) the magma is and water
provides the explosive potential of steam.
Obstacles also influence the type of eruption. When
the pipe is blocked by a stopple or an accumulation
of pumice, the pressure in the pipe will build up very high resulting in an explosion.
When magma reaches earth's surface it is called lava. It may pour out in gentle streams called lava flows
or erupt violently into the air. Rocks ripped loose from the inside of the volcano or torn apart by the gas
may be shot into the air with the lava. These rocks blown out of a volcano are called pyroclastic rocks.
The rock fragments fall back to earth as dust, ash, bombs, blocks, cinder and pummice.
Volcanic activity is classified by how often a volcano erupts. A volcano may be active, intermittent,
dormant, or extinct. Active volcanoes erupt constantly. Intermittent volcanoes erupt fairly regularly.
Dormant volcanoes are inactive, but not long enough to determine whether they will erupt again or not.
Extinct volcanoes have been inactive since the beginning of recorded history.\

A volcano is an opening in earth's crust though which molten rock, rock fragments and hot
magma ( lava ) errupts. Most volcanoes explode and mountains doesn't. Most of the
time,volcanoes have openings in the top. Mountain is an area of land that rises steeply from the
land around it. Mountains does not produce lava. Both rises from earth surfaca, can have
different types & shapes!