The Definition of a Volcano

According to study.com-academy, the definition of a volcano is a rupture in the earth’s crust that allows hot lava,volcanic ash and gases to escape from a magma chamber located beneath the surface. How do I know what an volcano is? This is very simple. It’s a mountain or hill through which lava, hot vapor and gases are erupted from earth’s crust. There are many different types of volcanoes with many different shapes and sizes. Some examples are cinder cone, which is shaped like a upside down ice cream cone. According to ‘’ Everything, Volcanoes & Earthquakes’’, “the gentle broad slopes of a shield volcano look like ancient warriors shield”.

Volcanoes are formed when magma rises inside the earth’s upper mantle and it works its way to the top. According to ‘’weather wiz kids’’, ‘’At the surface,it erupts to form lava flows and ash deposits.’’As the volcano continues to erupt, it will get bigger and bigger. Some volcanoes can also form at hotspots, and or holes beneath earth's crust which are in the middle of a tectonic plate.

Over half of active volcanoes occur at the boundaries between tectonic plates. A belt called the ring of fire, is where most volcanoes are found. The ring of fire does not cross the Pacific Ocean, but it incircles it. When volcanoes occur, the earth’s crust is broken into huge sections like a huge cracked eggshell. These pieces of the crust are called plates. According to “Volcanoes”, ‘’The United States,Canada, and Mexico and part of the North Atlantic Ocean are all on the North American Plate.’’

Volcanoes are categorized into three main categories: active, dormant, and extinct. A active volcano is a volcano that has erupted within the past 10,000 years which may be active or dormant. A dormant volcano is a volcano that is not erupting, but is supposed to erupt again. Extinct volcano is a volcano that hasn’t erupted within the last 10,000 years and isn’t expected to erupt again within the same time frame of the future.

Volcanoes are best defined as cracked in the earth’s surface where magma has flowed and turned into lava. They can cause acid lakes, volcanic lightning, and lava caves. When they erupt, it looks like a chimney with fire and smoke coming out of it. If you’re around a volcano and it erupts, you should get away as quick as possible to avoid death, breathing problems, burns, or respiratory problems.

Cite this page