2. What are volcanoes?
• A volcano is a rupture in the crust of a
planetary-mass object, such as Earth, that
allows hot lava, volcanic ash, and gases to
escape from a magma chamber below the
surface. On Earth, volcanoes are most
often found where tectonic plates are
diverging or converging, and most are
found underwater.
3. Two types of volcanoes
• There are two broad types of volcano – a stratovolcano and a shield
volcano, although there are lots of volcanic features that can form from
erupted magma (such as cinder cones, or as lava domes) as well
processes that shape volcanoes.
4. How do volcanoes erupt?
• Deep within the Earth it is so hot that some rocks slowly melt and
become a thick flowing substance called magma. Since it is lighter than
the solid rock around it, magma rises and collects in magma chambers.
Eventually, some of the magma pushes through vents and fissures to
the Earth's surface.
5. Benefits of volcanoes?
Volcanoes helps to cool off the earth removing heat from its interior.
Volcanic emissions have produced the atmosphere and the water of the
oceans. Volcanoes make islands and add to the continents. Volcanic
deposits are also used as building materials.
6. Disadvantages of volcanoes
• Volcanoes are dangerous. They can kill people and damage property.
Economic activity can suffer as it is hard for businesses to operate after
an eruption. Habitats and landscapes are damaged by lava flows.
