How can the physical appearance of a shield volcano be differentiated from a composite volcano? ii. Explain the danger of ‘Bolide Impacts’
QUESTION 2
i. How can the physical appearance of a shield volcano be differentiated from a composite volcano?
ii. Explain the danger of ‘Bolide Impacts’
Shield volcanoes: Shield volcanoes have derived their name from their resemblance in shape to a warrior’s shield lying on the ground, for its low profile. These types of volcanoes are broad, very large and much wider than their tallness. These volcanoes have got their name from their appearance. Structures of these types of volcanoes are big dome-shaped mountains made of lava flows and are usually composed of basalts. The slopes of the shield volcanoes are gentle. The lava which gets erupted from these types of volcanoes is usually basaltic and produces low viscosity flows over a long time period. The drainage pattern is usually radial type. Some shield volcanoes also support the glacier formation and perennial snow because of high enough. Examples of shield volcanoes are Kilauea and Mauna etc.
Composite volcano: Composite volcanoes are very large volcanoes usually composed of lava flows that form tall peaks rather than rounded cones. These volcanoes are also called stratovolcanoes as these volcanoes are cone-shaped make from various layers of hardened lava, pumice, ash, and tephra. The volcanoes are having concave shape with very steeper near the top and typically are not stratified. Composite volcanoes produce the most picturesque among all the volcanoes. The mountain tops are mostly snow covered. The lava is of highly viscous in nature and spreads far away and are mostly active over long periods. The magma is felsic in nature in these types of volcanoes. The formation of such volcanoes is at subduction zones, where one plate is pushed below another.
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