You hear on the news that a volcano erupted in the

Pacific Northwest. You did not hear all the details, but

the reporter mentioned it was one of the most explosive

eruptions in the history of the United States. The

broadcast shows a massive cloud of smoke and ash

towering above a large volcano with steep sides.

Based on the evidence presented in the broadcast, what

type of volcano is most likely responsible for the

eruption?

A

cinder cone

B

composite

C

shield

Composite volcano erupts with massive cloud of smoke and ash towering above a large volcano with steep sides.

Explanation:

A volcanic terrain composed of slowly accumulated lava erupts out to the earth's surface through vents or openings. Depending upon the type of vent and the flow of lava, volcanoes are classified into four basic types - Cinder cone, Composite, Shield, and Lava dome volcanoes.

A Composite volcano, also called Stratovolcano, arise from grandest large mountains. These mountains usually are tall with sides being even but steep.

These mountains are built by several layers of a repeated lava flow, cinders, volcanic ash, blocks and other volcanic material.

Due to these volcanoes arising from tall mountains, these can erupt and rise to great height to even above 8,000 feet from their surroundings.

Most of the tall mountains of the world like Mt. Rainier, Mt. Hood, Mt. Shasta, Mt. St. Helen in the USA, Mt. Cotopaxi in Ecuador, and Mt. Fuji in Japan are all composite volcanoes.