Illustrated Volcano Glossary

Updated: May 3, 2024 06:11 GMT - refresh

shield volcano | skylight | smoke ring | strombolian eruption

shield volcano: Volcanology

Mauna Loa shield volcano (Big Island, Hawaii)

Shield volcanoes are volcanoes that mainly erupt fluid (usually basaltic) lava flows that are able to travel over long distances and thus construct over time broad, gentle slopes. They are called shield volcanoes, because they resemble the shape of a warriors'shield.

Shield volcanoes are volcanoes that mainly erupt fluid (usually basaltic) lava flows that are able to travel over long distances and thus construct over time broad, gentle slopes. They are called shield volcanoes, because they resemble the shape of a warriors'shield.
While stratovolcanoes, the other major morphological type of volcanoes, are representative for most subduction-type volcanoes, sh...
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Volcano Glossary
skylight: Volcanology

Skylight on Etna volcano (Italy)

Skylights are openings in the roof above a lava tube, from where the flowing lava flow can be seen. Usually, these holes are caused by the simple collapse of the roof of the tube.

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Coulée de lave
smoke ring: Volcanology: volcanic smoke ring, gas ring, steam ring

Etna's Bocca Nuova crater in 2000, emitting smoke rings

A rare phenomenon, where a visible vortex ring of steam and gas is expelled from a volcanic vent.

Under special conditions, gas and steam expelled from a vent can form gas rings. It probably requires a particular geolometric configuration of a circular vent exit, as well as expulsion of gas in individual puffs with just the right velocity.
This phenomenon is quite rare, but has been witnessed at several volcanoes, including Stromboli and Etna. At Etna, a spectacular period lasting several mo...
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strombolian eruption: Volcanology

Strombolian eruptions from vents of Stromboli volcano, Eolian Islands, Italy

Strombolian eruptions are the smallest type of explosive eruptions. Strombolian eruptions consist of intermittent, generally relatively small explosions or weak pulsating fountains of fluid (usually basaltic) lava from a single vent or crater.
They are called so after the type locality of Stromboli volcano (Eolian Islands, Italy), which has been in strombolian activity for probably more than 2000 years.

An individual strombolian explosion is the result of sudden release of volcanic gasses. The typical rhythmic occurrence is caused by gradual accumulation of gas bubbles beneath a weakly solidified plug at the top of the magma column at the vent surface until the gas pressure is high enough to erupt through it, ejecting with it both solid and liquid spatter from the magma.
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vulcanian eruption

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