How does the appearance of land surfaces change before and after a caldera forms?

Answer 1

Before a caldera forms, the land surface typically features a volcanic cone or dome, characterized by steep slopes and a conical shape due to accumulated volcanic materials like lava and ash. After a caldera forms, often as a result of a major volcanic eruption that empties the magma chamber, the landscape changes dramatically; the ground may collapse, creating a large, usually bowl-shaped depression. This altered terrain can exhibit features such as steep walls and a flat floor, which may later fill with water to form a lake, dramatically changing the area's topography and ecosystem.