Volcanic Landforms

Study Notes

Volcanoes: landforms that occur when magma from the Earth's interior rises to the surface, resulting in eruptions of molten rock, ash, and gas.
Calderas: large depressions formed when a volcano collapses or erupts explosively, leaving a crater-like feature.
Volcanic fields: areas of the Earth's surface covered with multiple volcanoes and volcanic vents.
Lava domes: steep-sided volcanoes formed by the accumulation of viscous lava flows.
Shield volcanoes: gently sloping volcanoes formed by the eruption of fluid lava flows.

Plate boundaries: areas where tectonic plates meet and interact, resulting in volcanic activity.
Divergent boundaries: where plates move apart, creating new crust and volcanoes (e.g., Mid-Ocean Ridge).
Convergent boundaries: where plates collide, resulting in subduction and volcanic activity (e.g., Andean mountain building).
Hotspots: areas of volcanic activity not related to plate boundaries, thought to be caused by mantle plumes.

Explosive eruptions: violent releases of energy and ash into the atmosphere, often with pyroclastic flows.
Effusive eruptions: gentle to moderate flows of lava from a volcano, often with little to no ash.
Phreatomagmatic eruptions: mix of magma and water, resulting in violent explosions and ash clouds.
Vulcanian eruptions: moderate-sized eruptions with ash clouds and lava bombs.

Igneous rocks: formed from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava.
Intrusive rocks: formed below the Earth's surface (e.g., granite).
Extrusive rocks: formed above the Earth's surface (e.g., basalt).
Pyroclastic rocks: formed from the accumulation of ash and other pyroclastic material.

Lahars: mudflows or landslides caused by volcanic ash and debris.
Pyroclastic flows: hot, fast-moving clouds of ash, gas, and rock that can be deadly and destructive.
Volcanic ash fall: ash particles that can affect climate, agriculture, and human health.
Lava flows: slow-moving rivers of molten rock that can destroy infrastructure and habitats.

Volcanoes form when magma rises to the surface, resulting in eruptions of molten rock, ash, and gas.
Calderas are large depressions formed by volcanic collapse or explosive eruption, leaving a crater-like feature.
Volcanic fields are areas covered with multiple volcanoes and vents, formed by volcanic activity.
Lava domes are steep-sided volcanoes formed by visous lava flows.
Shield volcanoes are gently sloping volcanoes formed by fluid lava flows.

Plate boundaries are areas where tectonic plates meet and interact, resulting in volcanic activity.
Divergent boundaries occur where plates move apart, creating new crust and volcanoes, such as the Mid-Ocean Ridge.
Convergent boundaries occur where plates collide, resulting in subduction and volcanic activity, such as Andean mountain building.
Hotspots are areas of volcanic activity not related to plate boundaries, thought to be caused by mantle plumes.

Explosive eruptions are violent releases of energy and ash into the atmosphere, often with pyroclastic flows.
Effusive eruptions are gentle to moderate flows of lava from a volcano, often with little to no ash.
Phreatomagmatic eruptions are a mix of magma and water, resulting in violent explosions and ash clouds.
Vulcanian eruptions are moderate-sized eruptions with ash clouds and lava bombs.

Igneous rocks are formed from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava.
Intrusive rocks are formed below the Earth's surface, such as granite.
Extrusive rocks are formed above the Earth's surface, such as basalt.
Pyroclastic rocks are formed from the accumulation of ash and other pyroclastic material.

Lahars are mudflows or landslides caused by volcanic ash and debris.
Pyroclastic flows are hot, fast-moving clouds of ash, gas, and rock that can be deadly and destructive.
Volcanic ash fall can affect climate, agriculture, and human health.
Lava flows are slow-moving rivers of molten rock that can destroy infrastructure and habitats.