i am having trouble finding how a shield volcano erupts and how a cinder cone volcano erupts.
dont they all erupt the same? i gues they dont
please help and thank you
Of course, I'd be happy to help you understand the differences in the eruptive behaviors of shield volcanoes and cinder cone volcanoes!
1. Shield Volcano Eruptions:
Shield volcanoes are characterized by their low-profile, gently sloping cone shape resembling a warrior's shield. These volcanoes erupt mostly basaltic lava, which has a low viscosity (ability to flow) due to its low silica content.
To understand how shield volcanoes erupt, it's essential to understand that molten rock beneath the Earth's surface is called magma, while magma that reaches the surface is called lava.
The eruption process of a shield volcano generally involves the following steps:
1. Magma chamber filling: Magma accumulates in a large underground chamber.
2. Uplift: Pressure builds up within the magma chamber, causing the land surface above it to uplift.
3. Fissure eruption: Instead of a single central vent, shield volcanoes tend to produce long fissures (cracks) along the flanks of the volcano. Lava flows out through these fissures, forming extensive lava fields.
4. Lava flow: The low-viscosity basaltic lava flows easily and can travel long distances. It often hugs the slopes and spreads out like a broad, thin sheet, forming the characteristic shield shape over time.
5. Repeat: Shield volcanoes typically experience multiple eruptions, with each new eruption adding more layers of lava and further building up the cone shape.
2. Cinder Cone Volcano Eruptions:
Cinder cone volcanoes, also called scoria cones, are steep-sided, conical volcanoes composed of loose, fragmented volcanic material called "cinders" or "scoria." These volcanoes are usually much smaller in size compared to shield volcanoes.
The eruption process of a cinder cone volcano generally involves the following steps:
1. Gas-rich magma eruption: Cinder cones erupt from a single central vent. The magma is typically rich in gas, which causes the eruption explosiveness.
2. Explosive pyroclastic activity: The gas in the magma expands rapidly, leading to explosive eruptions. This results in a vertical column of ash, volcanic bombs, and fragments being ejected high into the air.
3. Accumulation of cinders: The ejected materials fall back to the ground around the vent, forming a cone-shaped pile of loose, coarse-grained cinders.
4. Growing the cone: With each explosive eruption, more cinders accumulate around the vent, gradually building up the steep slopes of the cone.
In summary, while both shield volcanoes and cinder cone volcanoes involve the eruption of magma/lava, their differences in cone shape, magma composition, eruption style, and accumulation of volcanic materials lead to distinct eruptive behaviors.