VOLCANO PLANET

Volcanic activity has always been associated with tectonic plate movements on Earth which have been going on for millions of years. Volcanoes are located within 5 different zones in which you will find within or on the edge of each tectonic plate. They are: Hotspots, Continental Margins, Island Arcs, Mid Oceanic ridges, and Continental Rifts.

* Image courtesy of USGS

Hotspot Volcanoes

These are normally located in the middle of a plate and are formed by the upwelling of magma inside the earth known as Mantle Plumes. They usually produce liquid basaltic magma which typically forms a shield volcano. The volcanoes of Hawaii, Galapagos Islands, and Reunion Island are examples of hotspot volcanoes.

Continental Margin Volcanoes

Continental Margin volcanoes are formed as a result of which an oceanic plate is subducted beneath the larger continental plate into the mantle causing partially melted material to rise to the surface, this is called the subduction zone. They typically form Lava Domes and Stratovolcanoes which tend to be the most explosive volcanoes. The volcanoes of the Cascades and Andes mountains are examples of Continental Margin volcanoes.

Island Arc Volcanoes

Another form of subduction zone volcanoes. They work in the same way as Continental Margin volcanoes except an oceanic plate is subducted beneath another oceanic plate forming volcanic islands. Lava Domes and Stratovolcanoes are typically formed. The volcanoes of Indonesia, Japan, and Aleutian Islands are examples of Island Arc volcanoes.

Mid Oceanic Ridge Volcanoes

These volcanic structures form along a long line of fissues running along through the middle of the ocean caused by the upwelling of liquid basaltic magma. Black Smokers are found here and in some cases, volcanic structures form above the surface of the ocean creating islands. The volcanoes of Iceland are a prime example of Mid Oceanic Ridge volcanoes.

Continental Rift Volcanoes

When a landmass splits, it seperates from each other creating a rift valley. Down on the rift valley floor the crust thins out allowing the upwelling of magma to create volcanoes. The volcanoes of East Africa are examples of Continental Rift volcanoes.

* Image courtesy of USGS

Super volcanoes are rare and amongst the hardest to spot but are known to cause catastrophic eruptions which dramatically affects the Earth's climate with an eruption cycle of hundreds of thousands of years. Notable super volcanoes include Lake Toba on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, Lake Taupo in New Zealand, and perhaps the most famous one of all, Yellowstone National Park which lies in Wyoming, USA. Yellowstone National Park is well known for it's Geysers and it is said that a giant magma chamber lies beneath the national park with an eruption cycle of 600,000 years.

Eruption cycles on active volcanoes can vary from between every few years to even every few hours, it depends on the volcano. Here you will find a list of the most active volcanoes in the world which have been in continuous eruption for at least 5 years or more.

Kilauea, Hawaii (USA)

Colima, Mexico

Santiaguito, Guatemala

Fuego, Guatemala

Pacaya, Guatemala

Arenal, Costa Rica

Sangay, Ecuador

Tungurahua, Ecuador

Soufriere Hills, Montserrat

Erebus, Antarctica

Piton de la Fournaise, Reunion

Nyiragongo, DR Congo

Erta Ale, Ethiopia

Etna, Italy

Stromboli, Aeolian Islands (Italy)

Merapi, Indonesia

Semeru, Indonesia

Dukono, Indonesia

Suwanose-jima, Ryukyu Islands (Japan)

Sakura-jima, Japan

Karymsky, Russia

Sheveluch, Russia

Manam, Papua New Guinea

Langila, Papua New Guinea

Ulawun, Papua New Guinea

Rabaul, Papua New Guinea

Bagana, Papua New Guinea

Tinakula, Solomon Islands

Ambrym, Vanuatu

Yasur, Vanuatu