Volcanoes Vocabulary

A long crack into the earth’s surface from which lava erupts onto the surface

A fixed region of hot magma that rises through the mantle and creates volcanoes on the earth’s surface.

A column of very hot rock that rises up through the mantle. Forms a hot spot of the surface is reached.

Molten rock that has erupted onto the earth’s surface.

Molten rock under the earth’s surface.

A volcano that is currently erupting or just about to erupt.

A volcano that is not currently erupting, but that has erupted in the recorded past

A relatively gentle, non-explosive volcanic eruption.

The release of magma onto the Earth’s surface.

A volcanic eruption that releases large amounts of gas, so that magma is violently thrown up in the air.

A volcano that has not erupted in recorded history and is considered unlikely to erupt again.

A region in the earth surrounded by solid rock and containing magma

A rock made up of fragments of volcanic rock thrown into the air by volcanic eruptions

The thickness or stickiness of a liquid.

Circular-shaped geographic features formed from a massive eruption of an ancient volcano and the subsequent collapse of the volcano back into the ground

A smaller volcano that grows rapidly but only erupts over a short period of time. Composed of small rock fragments piled on top of one another. Rarely more than 300m in height.

A volcano with a broad base, steep sides, and often a crater at the top. Composed of alternating layers of ash and lava flows. Created by explosive eruptions and viscous lava.

Layers of rock that are similar in composition to one another

A massive volcanic eruption that is rare but incredibly powerful. Thousands of cubic kilometers of matter can be ejected, and the dust and ash can cool the world climate for years.

A volcano with a very wide base and gentle slopes created by effusive eruptions and low-viscosity lava. Often composed of layers, but not alternating layers of ash and lava.

Rocks that solidify below ground

Rocks that solidify above ground

A mound formed by viscous lava, often at the center of a volcanic crater

A large, flat surface of igneous rock created by less viscous lava flowing over a large area.