Question

Answer in detail:

Explain with examples, different types of landforms produced by a volcanic eruption.

Answer 1

A number of landforms are formed due to the cooling and solidification of magma. Some important landforms are:

1) Lava domes:

1. Domes are developed when magma comes out and solidifies around its mouth.
2. The shape of the dome depends upon the fluidity of lava.
3. A high dome with steep slopes is developed by acidic lava.
4. Due to basic lava, broad-based low domes are developed.

2) Lava plateaus:

1. Due to the spread of lava in huge quantities from the fissure volcano, it covers large areas and plateaus are formed.
2. The Deccan Trap in India has developed from volcanic eruptions millions of years ago.

3) Caldera:

1. At times, the eruption of a volcano brings about a large quantity of material and relieves a lot of pressure.
2. After the eruption, a large and deep depression remains in that area. This large depression is called a caldera. 
3. These can be around 10 km wide and hundreds of metres deep. 
4. They may later turn into lakes. Smaller calderas are known as craters.

4) Crater lake:
When the funnel-shaped crater of an extinct volcano gets filled with rainwater, it forms a crater lake.

5) Volcanic plug: 

1. It is formed when the lava solidifies in the volcanic neck.
2. The surrounding rock material is removed by different agents of erosion; the vent stands predominantly. It is called a volcanic plug.
3. The diameter of a plug varies between 300 and 600 metres.
4. The Devil's Tower in Wyoming, United States of America is the best example.

6) Cinder cone:

1. The solid material is ejected in large quantity.
2. This material consists of ash, cinder, and breccias.
3. Cinders are half-burnt pieces of solid material.
4. The solid material is deposited around the mouth until a conical hill with steep slopes is formed.
5. For example, the cone of Mt. Nuovo in Italy.

7) Composite cone:

1. Composite cones are built up of alternate layers of lava and cinder.
2. This cone is composed of two materials and therefore it is called a composite cone.
3. It is symmetrical in shape.
4. For example, Mt. St. Helens, USA.