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Generally, when a volcano produces a gentle eruption the lava has a very low viscosity (it is very runny). This allows the lava to spread out quickly after it has exited the volcano but before it cools and hardens. This means that the lava will be able to spread further from the eruption site and thus gentle slopes are created.

In a strong eruption, lava with a higher-viscosity is thrown out along with some rock fragments, this lava cannot flow as far away before it cools and so the volcano has steep slopes.

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What are gentle sided and steep sided volcanoes?

gently sloping volcanoes are called shield volcanoes and they are formed from many eruptions of lava that is relatively low in silica, so it spreads out in many thin layers and creates the gently sloping sides of a shield volcano.


What are the similarities and differences between the types of volcanoes?

Shield volcanoes have fluid basaltic flows that are lower in silicates, making the lava very fluid without a tendency to form pyroclastics. Composite Cone volcanoes contain the highest percentage of silica content making the magma thicker with the greatest tendency to form pyroclastics and are the most dangerous volcanoes.


What are the characteristics of divergent-boundary volcanoes and convergent boundary volcanoes?

Divergent boundary volcanoes are associated with mid-ocean ridges where tectonic plates are moving apart, resulting in upwelling magma forming new crust. These volcanoes tend to produce basaltic lava flows with gentle slopes and low viscosity. Convergent boundary volcanoes occur at subduction zones where one plate is being forced beneath another, leading to the melting of rock and explosive eruptions. These volcanoes typically produce andesitic or rhyolitic magma leading to more explosive eruptions with steep-sided cones.


Of the three primary forms of subaerial volcanoes consist of alternating layers of tephra and solidified lava?

The three primary forms of subaerial volcanoes are stratovolcanoes, shield volcanoes, and cinder cone volcanoes. Stratovolcanoes are characterized by alternating layers of tephra and solidified lava due to their explosive eruptions and lava flows. Shield volcanoes have gentle slopes formed from successive lava flows with occasional tephra layers. Cinder cone volcanoes are small, steep-sided volcanoes made up almost entirely of tephra fragments from explosive eruptions.


What are tyes of volcanoes?

There are three main types of volcanoes: shield volcanoes, cinder cone volcanoes, and stratovolcanoes. Shield volcanoes have gentle slopes and are formed by thin lava flows. Cinder cone volcanoes are made up of pyroclastic material, such as ash and rock fragments. Stratovolcanoes are large, steep-sided volcanoes that erupt a mixture of lava flows and explosive eruptions.

Related Questions

What are gentle sided and steep sided volcanoes?

gently sloping volcanoes are called shield volcanoes and they are formed from many eruptions of lava that is relatively low in silica, so it spreads out in many thin layers and creates the gently sloping sides of a shield volcano.


What are the similarities and differences between the types of volcanoes?

Shield volcanoes have fluid basaltic flows that are lower in silicates, making the lava very fluid without a tendency to form pyroclastics. Composite Cone volcanoes contain the highest percentage of silica content making the magma thicker with the greatest tendency to form pyroclastics and are the most dangerous volcanoes.


What are the characteristics of divergent-boundary volcanoes and convergent boundary volcanoes?

Divergent boundary volcanoes are associated with mid-ocean ridges where tectonic plates are moving apart, resulting in upwelling magma forming new crust. These volcanoes tend to produce basaltic lava flows with gentle slopes and low viscosity. Convergent boundary volcanoes occur at subduction zones where one plate is being forced beneath another, leading to the melting of rock and explosive eruptions. These volcanoes typically produce andesitic or rhyolitic magma leading to more explosive eruptions with steep-sided cones.


Of the three primary forms of subaerial volcanoes consist of alternating layers of tephra and solidified lava?

The three primary forms of subaerial volcanoes are stratovolcanoes, shield volcanoes, and cinder cone volcanoes. Stratovolcanoes are characterized by alternating layers of tephra and solidified lava due to their explosive eruptions and lava flows. Shield volcanoes have gentle slopes formed from successive lava flows with occasional tephra layers. Cinder cone volcanoes are small, steep-sided volcanoes made up almost entirely of tephra fragments from explosive eruptions.


What are tyes of volcanoes?

There are three main types of volcanoes: shield volcanoes, cinder cone volcanoes, and stratovolcanoes. Shield volcanoes have gentle slopes and are formed by thin lava flows. Cinder cone volcanoes are made up of pyroclastic material, such as ash and rock fragments. Stratovolcanoes are large, steep-sided volcanoes that erupt a mixture of lava flows and explosive eruptions.


What are the 3 types of volcans?

Plinian, Strombolian and Hawaiian..:P


What are three types of volcanoes?

Three types of volcanoes are shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes (composite volcanoes), and cinder cone volcanoes. Shield volcanoes have gentle slopes and are formed by low-viscosity lava, while stratovolcanoes are characterized by alternating layers of lava and ash. Cinder cone volcanoes are small, steep-sided volcanoes formed by pyroclastic material ejected during eruptions.


How do the three types of volcanoes differ?

The active volcano is erupting or has erupted recently. A dormant volcano has not erupted recently, but may erupt again in the furture. It could be considered as "sleeping". An extinct volcano will never erupt again.


What are the three major types of volcanoes?

The three major types of volcanoes are shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes (composite volcanoes), and cinder cone volcanoes. Shield volcanoes have gentle slopes and are formed by low-viscosity lava flows, stratovolcanoes are steep-sided and composed of layers of lava and ash, and cinder cone volcanoes are small, steep-sided cones made of pyroclastic material.


What kind of volcano produce lahar?

Lahars are mainly produced by stratovolcanoes, which are tall, steep-sided volcanoes composed of layers of hardened lava, ash, and volcanic rocks. These volcanoes are prone to explosive eruptions that can melt snow and ice, triggering lahars when the volcanic material mixes with water and flows down the volcano slopes.


What are the 3 kinds of volcanoes?

The three main types of volcanoes are shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes (composite volcanoes), and cinder cone volcanoes. Shield volcanoes have gently sloping sides and are formed by layers of lava flows. Stratovolcanoes are characterized by steep sides and explosive eruptions. Cinder cone volcanoes are small, steep-sided volcanoes built from explosive eruptions that eject fragmented rock.


A combination of explosive and nonexplosive eruptions will create a?

A combination of explosive and nonexplosive eruptions will create a diverse volcanic landscape characterized by various features. Explosive eruptions can form steep-sided stratovolcanoes with layers of ash and lava, while nonexplosive eruptions typically lead to the formation of broad shield volcanoes with gentle slopes. This interplay can result in complex volcanic structures, such as calderas, lava plateaus, and pyroclastic deposits, showcasing a range of volcanic activity and geology. Such environments often exhibit varied ecosystems and geological hazards.