How to Classify Volcanoes

A REVIEW OF HOW TO CLASSIFY VOLCANOES:

1.) History of the volcano's activity

Active: volcano has erupted within 200 years

Dormant: Volcano has not erupted in over 200 years but is expected to erupt again

Extinct: Volcano can no longer erupt-has lost magma source

2.) Volcano's explosiveness

Effusive vs Explosive

Effusive: non-explosive volcanoes; just produces lava flows

Explosive: forms ash clouds

3. Location of volcano

Subduction volcanoes: A oceanic plate goes under a continental pate.

These tend to be the most explosive

ex. Cascades

Volcanic Island Arcs: A oceanic plate goes under a lighter oceanic plate

ex. Indonesian islands

Rift Volcanoes: Volcanoes formed at divergent plate boundaries

ex. Icleand

Hot Spots: Not found near plate boundaries

ex. Hawaii

4. Volcano's shape/nature

Cinder Cone Volcano

ex. Sunset Crater

Composite/Stratovolcano

ex. Mt. Rainier

Shield Volcano

ex. Hawaiian Islands

Caldera Volcano

ex. Yellowstone

Yayyy you're now ready to classify volcanoes!!!