Glossary
Shield Volcano
A shield volcano is a very broad volcano with gentle slopes, like a shield lying on the ground. It is built by fluid lava flows that spread far from the crater.
Its eruptions are usually effusive, with lava fountains and rivers rather than explosions. Mauna Loa and Kīlauea in Hawaii are the best-known examples. Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano on the planet.
Examples on the Map
Other Definitions
- Tectonic Plate
- Subduction
- Mid-Ocean Ridge
- Transform Fault
- Fault
- Earthquake, Epicentre and Hypocentre
- Magnitude
- Intensity (Mercalli Scale)
- Aftershock
- Tsunami
- Active Volcano
- Stratovolcano
- Caldera
- Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI)
- Pyroclastic Flow
- Lahar
- Hotspot
- Tropical Cyclone, Hurricane, Typhoon
- Saffir-Simpson Scale
- Aurora and Kp Index