What are the different types of volcanoes?

There are four main types of volcano: composite (or strato), shield, fissure, and dome.

Composite Volcanoes

Composite volcanoes, sometimes known as stratovolcanoes, are steep-sided cones formed from layers of ash and lava flows. The eruptions from these volcanoes may be a pyroclastic flow rather than a flow of lava. A pyroclastic flow is a superheated mixture of hot steam, ash, rock and dust. A pyroclastic flow can travel down the side of a volcano at very high speeds with temperatures over 400 degrees Celsius. Composite volcanoes can rise over 8000 feet.

A cross-section of a composite volcano

When composite volcanoes erupt, they are explosive and pose a threat to nearby life and property. Eruptions are explosive due to the thick, highly viscous lava that is produced by composite cone volcanoes. This viscous lava has a lot to do with why they are shaped the way they are. The thick lava cannot travel far down the slope of the volcano before it cools.

Composite volcanoes are usually found at destructive plate margins. Examples of composite volcanoes include Mount Fuji (Japan), Mount St Helens (USA) and Mount Pinatubo (Philippines).

Shield Volcanoes

Shield volcanoes are characterised by their low, gently sloping sides and are formed from layers of lava. Eruptions are typically non-explosive. Shield volcanoes produce fast-flowing fluid lava that can flow for many miles. Eruptions tend to be frequent but relatively gentle. Although these eruptions destroy property, death or injury to humans rarely occurs.

A cross-section of a shield volcano

Shield volcanoes are usually found at constructive boundaries and sometimes at volcanic hotspots. Examples of shield volcanoes include Mount Kilauea and Maunaloa on Hawaii.

The video below shows a lava flow from Mount Kilauea.

Fissure Volcanoes

Fissure volcanoes form when lava escapes through long cracks in the Earth’s surface rather than a central vent. They are usually found at constructive plate boundaries, where tectonic plates are moving apart.

Fissure eruptions do not produce a classic cone shape. Instead, they create flat, wide layers of lava that can cover large areas. The lava is usually very runny, so it can flow a long way before it cools and hardens.

Iceland is a good example of a place with fissure volcanoes. Since 2023, a series of fissure eruptions has taken place on the Reykjanes Peninsula, including near the town of Grindavík. These eruptions have produced lava fountains and long flows of basaltic lava. Although not explosive, the eruptions have caused evacuations and damaged roads and infrastructure.

Dome (acid) lava cones

Acid [lava] is much thicker than lava which flows from shield volcanoes. Dome volcanoes have much steeper sides than shield volcanoes. This is because the lava is thick and sticky. It cannot flow very far before ot cools and hardens. An example is Puy de Dome in the Auvergne region of France, which last erupted over 1 million years ago.

Take our composite and shield volcano quiz to test your knowledge.