Search results
A shield volcano is a type of volcano named for its low profile, resembling a shield lying on the ground. It is formed by the eruption of highly fluid (low viscosity) lava, which travels farther and forms thinner flows than the more viscous lava erupted from a stratovolcano.
Learn what a shield volcano is, how it is formed from basaltic lava flows, and what are its characteristics and differences from composite volcanoes. Find out the examples of shield volcanoes and watch the video to understand the process and causes of volcanic eruptions.
- Shield volcanoes are broad volcanoes with sloping sides that are mainly made of basaltic lava. The Mauna Loa on the Island of Hawaii and the Wolf v...
- Shield volcanoes are mainly composed of lava that flows out of it. Multiple eruptions of lava from a shield volcano build up, one on top of the oth...
- Shield volcanoes are found on divergent plate boundaries, where two plates move away from one another.
- Mauna Loa on the Island of Hawaii is the biggest shield volcano.
- The main difference between the two is that a shield volcano is composed of basaltic lava while a composite volcano is composed of andesitic magma.
Learn about shield volcanoes, the largest and widest volcanoes on Earth, with low slopes and fluid lava flows. Find out which national parks have shield volcanoes, such as Mauna Loa, Kīlauea, and Mount Wrangell.
Shield volcanoes are the largest volcanoes on Earth that actually look like volcanoes (i.e. not counting flood basalt flows). The Hawaiian shield volcanoes are the most famous examples. Shield volcanoes are almost exclusively basalt, a type of lava that is very fluid when erupted.
Learn what a shield volcano is, how it erupts basalt lava, and what are its features and stages. Find out the examples of shield volcanoes in Hawaii, Galapagos, and Oregon, and the types of lava they produce.
In volcano: Shield volcanoes. Structures of this type are large dome-shaped mountains built of lava flows. Their name derives from their similarity in shape to a warrior’s shield lying face up. Shield volcanoes are usually composed of basalt. Small shield volcanoes may form rapidly from almost continuous… Read More; size and shape
Learn the difference between shield volcanoes and stratovolcanoes, and how they are formed by different types of magma and eruptions. See examples of shield volcanoes, such as Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa in Hawai'i, and stratovolcanoes, such as Fuji in Japan.
