Natural Hazards: Causes and Effects - Disaster Management Center ...

then cool as thin, gently dipping sheets. Some of the largest volcanoes in the world are shield
volcanoes. The Hawaiian Islands are composed of these volcanoes. Kilauea and Mauna Loa
on the island of Hawaii are two of the world’s most active volcanoes. The floor of the ocean is
more than 4,900 meters (15,000 feet) deep at the bases of the islands. Mauna Loa, the largest
of the shield volcanoes (and also the world’s largest active volcano), projects 4,700 meters
(13,677 feet) above sea level. Its top is over 9,200 meters (28,000 feet) above the deep ocean
floor.
Lava Domes
Volcanic or lava domes are formed by relatively small, bulbous masses of lava too viscous to
flow any great distance; consequently, on extrusion, the lava piles over and around its vent. A
dome grows largely by expansion from within. As it grows its outer surface cools and hardens,
then shatters, spilling loose fragments down its sides. Some domes form craggy knobs or
spines over the volcanic vent, whereas others form short, steep-sided lava flows known as
“coulees.” Volcanic domes commonly occur within the craters or on the flanks of large
composite volcanoes.
An idealized Diagram of a Volcano in an Oceanic Environment (Left)
and in a Continental Environment (Right)
Figure 4.2