Shield Volcanoes

Question 1

Give an example of a shield volcano.

Answer 1

The Mauna Loa volcano is one of five volcanoes that form the Hawaiian hotspot landscape.

Question 2

Where are shield volcanoes found?

Answer 2

Shield volcanoes are usually found at constructive or tensional boundaries.

Question 3

What shape are shield volcanoes?

Answer 3

They are wide volcanoes with shallowly­ sloping sides that are formed by lava flows of low viscosity ­lava that flows easily so a volcanic mountain having a broad profile is built up over time by flow after flow of relatively fluid basaltic lava issuing from vents or fissures on the surface of the volcano.

Question 4

Excellent example of

Answer 4

This volcano is an excellent example of how long term effusive eruptions produce very distinctive and large scale features.

Question 5

Dimensions of Mauna Loa

Answer 5

Rises to 13,677 feet (4,169 metres) above sea level and constitutes half of the island’s area. Its dome is 75 miles (120 km) long and 64 miles (103 km) wide.

Question 6

How did Mauna Loa form?

Answer 6

Lava eruptions, from a plume of magma known as the Hawaiian hot spot, began the formation of Hawaii’s Mauna Loa 600,000 to 1 million years ago.
This plume of magma is responsible for the formation of the entire chain of Hawaiian islands.

Question 7

How else is shield different to composite? Lava flow

Answer 7

Lava flows out of a central vent rather than the system of vents and can spread over a wide area before solidifying.