Volcanoes
A volcano is a vent or chimney that transfers magma from inside the Earth to the surface. Once magma has been erupted outside of a volcano, it is called lava which is what builds up around the base of the vent to create the volcano.
A volcano can either be active, dormant or extinct. A volcano is active if there has been recent activity such has eruptions, releasing gas or seismic activity. A dormant volcano hasn't erupted for a long time, but may erupt again, and after 10,000 years, a dormant volcano is deemed extinct.
The main types of volcanoes are : shield, stratovolcano and cinder.
A volcano can either be active, dormant or extinct. A volcano is active if there has been recent activity such has eruptions, releasing gas or seismic activity. A dormant volcano hasn't erupted for a long time, but may erupt again, and after 10,000 years, a dormant volcano is deemed extinct.
The main types of volcanoes are : shield, stratovolcano and cinder.
Shield volcano
Shield volcanoes are created when lava that is not thick flows down the volcano and piles on top of itself. They are generally wide and have quiet eruptions.
Stratovolcano
Also known as composite volcanoes, these are the most dangerous. They have gentle, but steep slopes and a high peak. They stand at around 8 - 10 thousand feet and have a diameter of 1 - 10km. They are built up of different layers including : hardened lava, tephra, pumice and volcanic ash, which is compacted over years. These volcanoes have violent eruptions with billowing clouds where enormous volumes of extremely hot gases, ash, and rocks rush down the side of a volcano, like an avalanche.
Cinder cones
Also known as scoria cones, they are one of the most common types. They are fairly small, only able to grow up to 1,000 - 1,200 feet and are not are as dangerous as other volcanoes. They are created when fragments of semi-solid lava, called cinders, emit from a single opening and created layers around the vent of the volcano.
Shield volcanoes are created when lava that is not thick flows down the volcano and piles on top of itself. They are generally wide and have quiet eruptions.
Stratovolcano
Also known as composite volcanoes, these are the most dangerous. They have gentle, but steep slopes and a high peak. They stand at around 8 - 10 thousand feet and have a diameter of 1 - 10km. They are built up of different layers including : hardened lava, tephra, pumice and volcanic ash, which is compacted over years. These volcanoes have violent eruptions with billowing clouds where enormous volumes of extremely hot gases, ash, and rocks rush down the side of a volcano, like an avalanche.
Cinder cones
Also known as scoria cones, they are one of the most common types. They are fairly small, only able to grow up to 1,000 - 1,200 feet and are not are as dangerous as other volcanoes. They are created when fragments of semi-solid lava, called cinders, emit from a single opening and created layers around the vent of the volcano.
Mountains
Mountains are really high elevations of the earth's surface and can be formed by collision boundaries (continental to continental plate convergence) and by volcanic activity.
There are five basic kinds of mountains:
Fold Mountains
They are the most common and are created by collision boundaries.
Fault-block Mountains
These mountains form when faults or cracks in the earth's crust force materials or rocks in the earth to rise or drop.
Dome Mountains
They are the result from a large amount of magma that has pushed it's way up under the earth’s crust without actually breaking through. The magma warps the upper layers of rock and then hardens, creating the mountain.
Volcanic Mountains
Volcanic mountains are formed when lava erupts and piles on the surface. The lava, ash and rock pile up into a cone and when it cools down, forms this mountain.
Plateau Mountains
Plateau mountains are formed by erosion. Water from a running river would cut into a plateau and slowly carve a mountain out of it.
There are five basic kinds of mountains:
Fold Mountains
They are the most common and are created by collision boundaries.
Fault-block Mountains
These mountains form when faults or cracks in the earth's crust force materials or rocks in the earth to rise or drop.
Dome Mountains
They are the result from a large amount of magma that has pushed it's way up under the earth’s crust without actually breaking through. The magma warps the upper layers of rock and then hardens, creating the mountain.
Volcanic Mountains
Volcanic mountains are formed when lava erupts and piles on the surface. The lava, ash and rock pile up into a cone and when it cools down, forms this mountain.
Plateau Mountains
Plateau mountains are formed by erosion. Water from a running river would cut into a plateau and slowly carve a mountain out of it.