shield volcano
Broad lava dome
A shield volcano is a broad, gently sloping volcanic mountain built up by successive flows of fluid lava.
The shape resembles a warrior's shield lying on the ground.
Shield volcanoes erupt less explosively than steep-sided stratovolcanoes, producing rivers of lava rather than violent blasts.
Mauna Loa in Hawaii is the classic example.
Area of notable activity
- magma chamberSubsurface pocket holding liquefied rock
- effusiveUnrestrainedly emotional in expression
- basalticOf dark volcanic rock
- oceanic plateDense undersea lithospheric section
lithosphere · asthenosphere · igneous · extrusive · seamount
Gradual changes in elevation
- broadWide in span
- domeRounded vault forming roof
- low profileInconspicuous public presence
- calderaCollapsed volcanic summit basin
summit crater · flank · vast · gradual · convex · massive · elevation · terrain
Largest active volcano
- KilaueaActive Hawaiian shield volcano
- Mauna KeaHawaii's highest volcano
- Big IslandLargest Hawaiian isle
- island chainSeries of linked islands
Moving volcanic discharge
- aaSharp, blocky lava flow
- lava tubeVolcanic drainage tunnel
- lava lakeMolten rock pool in crater
- effusiveUnrestrainedly emotional in expression
vent · fissure · curtain of fire · sulfur dioxide · degassing · continuous · prolonged · incandescent
Fine-grained volcanic stone
- olivineGreen igneous rock mineral
- pyroxeneRock-forming silicate group
- vesicularHaving small sacs
- scoriaPorous volcanic ejecta
gabbro · dike · sill · intrusion · lava field · geothermal · magmatic · petrology
hotspot
Area of notable activity
- magma chamberSubsurface pocket holding liquefied rock
- effusiveUnrestrainedly emotional in expression
- basalticOf dark volcanic rock
oceanic plate · lithosphere · asthenosphere · igneous · extrusive · seamount
gentle slopes
Gradual changes in elevation
- broadWide in span
- domeRounded vault forming roof
- low profileInconspicuous public presence
caldera · summit crater · flank · vast · gradual · convex · massive · elevation · terrain · collapse
Mauna Loa
Largest active volcano
- KilaueaActive Hawaiian shield volcano
- Mauna KeaHawaii's highest volcano
- Big IslandLargest Hawaiian isle
lava flow
Moving volcanic discharge
effusive · vent · fissure · curtain of fire · sulfur dioxide · degassing · continuous · prolonged · incandescent
basalt
Fine-grained volcanic stone
scoria · gabbro · dike · sill · intrusion · lava field · geothermal · magmatic · petrology · geochemistry
Olympus Mons
Massive Martian shield volcano
- GalápagosEcuadorian Pacific archipelago
- RéunionFrench island near Mauritius
- IcelandNordic island republic
Mars · Io · extraterrestrial
- geologybedrock, fault lines, faults, rock, basalt
- volcanoesMount Fuji, caldera, lava, crater, Etna
- island featuresbeach, lagoon, coral reef, atoll, reef
- volcanic sitescrater, caldera, lava flow, geyser, fumarole
- Volcanismmagma, eruption, lava flow, magma chamber, lava dome
- Hawaiian VolcanoesKilauea, Mauna Loa, Haleakala, lava, eruptions
shield volcanostratovolcano
Layered cone-shaped volcanic mountain
Vesuvius · Mount Vesuvius · volcanic cone · cinder cone · lava dome
shield volcanoPlinian eruption
Explosive volcanic event with sustained column
shield, volcano, shielded, volcanic, shields, shielding, volcanoes, volcanism, volcanology