A shield volcano is a type of volcano named for its low profile, resembling a shield lying on the ground. It is formed by the eruption of highly fluid (low viscosity) lava, which travels farther and …

Jul 13, 2024 · As the Pacific Plate moves over the hot spot, successive eruptions build up layers of basaltic lava, creating a shield volcano. At divergent boundaries, like the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, …

Most shield volcano eruptions are nonexplosive (effusive), usually 0-1 on the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI), typically in the Hawaiian eruptive style. These eruptions produce fluid lava flows …

Eruptions at shield volcanoes are only explosive if water somehow gets into the vent, otherwise they are characterized by low-explosivity fountaining that forms cinder cones and spatter …

Jul 23, 2025 · A shield volcano is formed when low viscosity, runny lava from a volcano extends far from its source and takes the form of a volcano with gentle slopes. Liquid basaltic lava …

Apr 24, 2017 · The lava flows from shield volcanoes is primarily of two types, pahoehoe — pronounced "pah-hoy-hoy" — and a'a (pronounced "ah-ah," said sharply). Both these types …

Understanding the three classic types—shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes, and cinder cones—reveals why volcanoes build such different landscapes, pose such varied hazards, …

Nov 27, 2025 · Shield volcanoes are considered the largest type of volcano on Earth. For example, Mauna Loa on Hawaiʻi is estimated to contain about 80,000 cubic kilometers of …

Shield volcanoes have low-viscosity lava that leads to non-explosive eruptions, resulting in their broad, gently sloping profiles. In contrast, stratovolcanoes have steeper profiles due to more …

Shield volcanoes are formed through the eruption of low-viscosity lava. This type of magma rises from mantle melting, often near hotspots or divergent plate boundaries. Shield volcanoes can …